ATHENS – Earlier this year, law enforcement was notified by the Henderson County Adult Probation Department that several probationers were appearing in social media videos purporting to be members of a gang in Athens. Many of these videos included individuals on probation holding firearms and suspected narcotics. Acting on this information, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Athens Police Department, along with members from the Smith County District Attorney’s office and the Henderson County District Attorney’s office worked quickly together to stop this activity.
The State filed motions to proceed with adjudication and revoke their probation based on multiple violations of the conditions of probation. These violations included failing to avoid people and places of harmful and disreputable character, including people who previously have been convicted of a crime and locations where a criminal act is being committed as well as other violations.
The state was represented by Jenny Palmer and Daniel Cox. All these defendants were sentenced by Judge Scott McKee.
- Sabian Marcell Young, 21, was sentenced to 12 years TDC on October 4, 2021, for the offense of Burglary of Habitation. Young had been originally placed on probation in 2018 for this offense.
- Justin Young, 19, was sentenced to 12 years TDC on September 13, 2021, for the offense of Burglary of Habitation. Justin Young was originally placed on probation in 2019 for this offense.
- Javiry DeJaun Bowman, 21, was sentenced on September 7, 2021, to 8 years for the offense of Deadly Conduct/Discharge Firearm. Bowman was originally placed on probation in 2020.
- Leslie DeWayne Preston, Jr, 24, was sentenced to three years TDC on October 4, 2021, for the offense of Injury to a Child. Preston was originally placed on probation in 2019.
“I am especially thankful for the hard work and thoroughness of the Henderson County Adult Probation Department. Their participation and assistance in this investigation was crucial to a successful outcome,” said District Attorney Jenny Palmer. “When I took office in January 2021, I pledged to work hard to follow through on the good work our law enforcement officers are doing.”