PARKER COUNTY — A Parker County grand jury has indicted three people accused of growing marijuana in a specially outfitted room of a Weatherford home last year.

Theodore Franklin Cromer III, 48, Dustin Taylor Cromer, 21, and Larry Don Summers Jr., 28, were indicted Thursday on charges of possession marijuana, more than 5 pounds, less than 50 pounds, a third degree felony.

About 120 plants were seized from the residence in the 100 block of West Owens Street in June 2011 after Weatherford-Parker County Special Crimes Unit investigators served a search warrant at the residence.

The marijuana was found in a ventilated and climate-controlled indoor nursery, authorities reported last year.

The plants equaled approximately 10 to 15 pounds of marijuana, which at a street value of about $4,000 per pound, equals about $40,000 to $60,000 worth of product, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.

Investigators seized equipment for the climate-controlled environment, including a ventilation system that spread into several rooms.

Prohibited weapon

A man who allegedly dropped an automatic handgun in the park while fleeing police was indicted by a Parker County grand jury Thursday.

Anthony Lawson Cooper, 23, was indicted on third degree felony charges of possessing a prohibited weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Cooper was not home at the time when a search warrant was executed on May 3 at his residence in the 700 block of Narrow Street during a narcotics investigation.

In a bedroom, believed to be Cooper’s room, law enforcement found meth, Ecstasy, a loaded sawed-off shotgun, and information related to Cooper’s numerous felony convictions, including a Tarrant County conviction for robbery in 2010 which he received a two-year sentence for, according to the officer’s account.

He reportedly fled officers on foot when they attempted to arrest him on May 5, reportedly dropping an automatic handgun and a large quantity of methamphetamine while fleeing through a Weatherford park.

He was taken into custody at a Fort Worth residence without incident days later.



Sexual assault

A man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a young neighbor for years was also indicted by a Parker County grand jury Thursday.

John Howard Herring, 62, of Garner, was indicted on a first degree felony charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact.

 The child’s mother reported to the sheriff’s office July 18 that her daughter had come home crying from Herring’s home several days prior. The mother said her daughter reported multiple instances of being sexually assaulted by the man over the past few years, according to the investigator’s sworn statement.

During an interview with Child Protective Services, the girl reportedly told authorities that she lives on the same street and brought Herring his mail once a week for about five years.

The girl told CPS that Herring began digitally penetrating her shortly after her ninth birthday and did so on multiple occasions, as well as forcing her to perform oral sex on him and vice versa, according to the investigator’s affidavit.

Herring sexually assualted her at least twice month since the first occurrence, the girl reportedly told authorities.



Others indictments include:

• Roy Tyler Beauchamp, theft of a firearm.

• Zechariah Seth Bigley, driving while intoxicated, third or more offense.

• William Darrell Cain, Jr., burglary of a habitation.

• Robert Jason Caraway, theft of a firearm.

• Edward Dial Coleman, driving while intoxicated, third or more offense.

• Gary Wayne Cox, driving while intoxicated, third or more offense.

• Michael Anthony Dragoo, forgery of a financial instrument.

• Matthew Gary Ferrell, driving while intoxicated, third or more offense.

• Charlotte Nicole Finney, possession of a controlled substance, more than 1 gram, less than 4 grams.

• Gilberto Flores Jr., assault of a family member with a previous conviction.

• Christopher Guevara, possession of a controlled substance, less than 1 gram.

• Trevor Lynn Henderson, driving while intoxicated, third or more offense.

• Keith Wade Hughes Jr., prohibited substances in a correctional facility.

• Justin Matthew Kidd, credit or debit card abuse.

• Justin Matthew Kidd, credit or debit card abuse.

• John Curtis Laye, burglary of a habitation.

• John Curtis Laye, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle with a previous conviction.

• Michael Gene Linthicum, unauthorized use of a vehicle.

• Jay Tea Long, theft of property, less than $1,500, with two or more previous convictions.

• Ryne Matthew Mahoney, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle.

• Ej Samuel McIver Jr., burglary of a building.

• Dakota James Midgley, theft of a firearm.

• Dakota James Midgley, burglary of a habitation.

• Matthew Daniel Read, assault of a family member by impeding breathing or circulation.

• Jacob Michael Roden, unauthorized use of a vehicle.

• Paul Rene Serna, driving while intoxicated, third or more offense.

• Jackie Dewayne Thomas, assault of a family member by impeding breathing or circulation.

• Raymond Trey Tijerina Jr., manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, more than 28 grams, less than 200 grams.