Hays County Jury Returns Guilty Verdict in First Fentanyl Case
Kim hilsenbeck • July 2, 2023
Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced that on June 29 a Hays County jury found Caden Farese guilty of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Fentanyl, a State Jail Felony. That jury subsequently sentenced him to 18 months in state jail.
According to Higgins, police and EMS arrived at Motel 6 in San Marcos in response to a potential overdose. An individual was found unconscious and attempts to revive that person were unsuccessful. The individual died as a result of the toxic effects of Fentanyl.
At the same time, Higgins said the defendant (Farese) was found unconscious in the room directly above. Police and EMS successfully revived him. A lethal amount of Fentanyl was found in the defendant’s room. Farese was charged with an additional count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, though the jury found him not guilty on that charge.
This is the first fentanyl-related case presented to a Hays County jury. It was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Sean Szlachtowski and ADA Jon English.
Szlachtowski said, “The verdict shows that the citizens of Hays County do not want Fentanyl plaguing their community. We will continue to prosecute crimes involving this deadly drug no matter how big or small.”
District Attorney Kelly Higgins added, “My office remains committed to seeking tough sentences in cases involving the deadly controlled substance Fentanyl.”
Hays County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to adopt a proclamation recognizing the 175th anniversary of the Hays County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). Members of the HCSO were at court Tuesday morning, August 1, to accept the proclamation. From the proclamation: The women and men serving as sheriff’s deputies, animal control officers, emergency communications officers, and civilian positions take pride in serving the community, businesses and visitors of Hays County.
UPDATE: Power was restored and the building is open as usual. Sharing the situation at the Hays County Government Center in San Marcos: the building will be closed beginning at 4 p.m. today, July 24, to address an electrical issue. The power has been going off and on for most of the day. The power will be shut off to allow troubleshooting of the system. Please check back in the morning on social media and our website for updated information.
The County’s contractor, Hunter Industries, Ltd., is scheduled to set up single lane closures on Robert S. Light Boulevard from RM 967 to the I-35 Southbound Frontage Road on Mon., July 24. The lane closures are necessary to provide a safe work zone for workers as part of the Robert S. Light Boulevard pavement rehabilitation project. The inside lanes in each direction will be closed and traffic will occupy the outside (right) lanes in each direction. These will be full-time closures and are anticipated to be in place until Thurs., August 10. Access to all side streets, driveways and businesses will be maintained at all times. An electronic message board will be set up on each end of the project to provide advance notification to the public for these closures. Travelers are asked to drive with caution and watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting work zones within the project limits.
The Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 (Judge Bryant’s) office will be closed Monday, July 24, 2023 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for training.
UPDATE 3:40 p.m. 7-18-23: Officials are closing FM 967 from Ruby Ranch Rd. to 6025 FM 967 to allow emergency vehicles easier access to battle the wildfire in that neighborhood. ORIGINAL: RUBY RANCH WILDFIRE INFO Posted 2:50 p.m. 7-18-23 The Texas Wildland Task Force was called to assist with a wild fire in the Ruby Ranch subdivision in West Buda near Montgomery Court. At this time, officials say the fire is limited to a roughly 30-acre area. Starflight is on scene for water drops. All Hays County ESDs are assisting Buda Fire Dept./ESD #8. EMS is also on scene as is Hays County CERT – Hays County, Texas for firefighter rehab. We have no indication of the cause of the fire yet. No structures are in danger but out of an abundance of caution, officials from the Hays County Office of Emergency Management said four homes have been evacuated. Should more be asked to leave their homes, information will be communicated directly to those residents. We will also update this post and our emergency information website haysinformed.com. For evacuated families – The following locations are available for your family to come while you are unable to be in your homes: Hays Hills Baptist Church 1401 FM N 1626, Buda Hays Community YMCA 465 Buda Sportsplex Dr, FM 1626, Buda Buda United Methodist Church 302 Elm St,, Buda
A Hays County jury found 63-year-old Elias Villarreal guilty on Wed., July 12, of Aggravated Assault Against a Public Servant and Resisting Arrest with a Deadly Weapon. Judge Gary Steel assessed a sentence of 35 years. The evidence in the trial showed that on Feb. 20, 2022, Kyle Police Department responded to the intersection of Quail Ridge Rd. and East Post Rd. for a verbal disturbance call between a male and female. Officers arrived on the scene and observed Villarreal wielding a metal pipe. Upon law enforcement’s arrival, Villarreal jumped over a fence and attacked a patrol vehicle, striking it several times and doing significant damage. Officers gave Villarreal repeated orders to drop the weapon and attempted to use a Taser to stop Villarreal’s aggressive behavior, but he then confronted the officers with the pipe in hand before turning briefly away. At that moment when Villarreal was turned, Officer Seagrave ran up to Villarreal and tackled him to the ground. Before Officer Seagrave could disarm Villarreal, he turned and struck Officer Seagrave with the metal pipe. Officers apprehended him and took him into custody. Officer Seagrave sustained a minor injury. Officers Seagrave and Orr testified at the trial about the dangerous and stressful situation Villarreal created and the actions they took to protect the community, Villarreal, and themselves. During the punishment phase of the trial, Judge Steel heard evidence of Villarreal’s extensive criminal history, including convictions for Voluntary Manslaughter, Forgery, Burglary of a Vehicle, Assault Family Violence, Assault Family Violence (third-degree felony), and Assault Family Violence (first-degree felony) with a prior 28-year sentence from a Travis County jury. Villarreal stated during his punishment testimony that he “has no guilt” for what happened on Feb. 20, 2022, and refused to accept responsibility for his actions. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Cassidy Story and ADA Allison Buess. Story said, “The verdict and sentence send a clear message that violence against our law enforcement officers will not be taken lightly.” District Attorney Kelly Higgins expressed his gratitude to the ADAs, staff, and officers whose work secured the verdict. Higgins commended the jury and the court for their work in resolving the case and making the county a safer place for all its residents and visitors.
WHAT- Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures and heat index between 105 and 109 degrees are expected. WHERE- The Llano uplift and most counties along and just to the east of the I-35 corridor. WHEN- Until 9 p.m. CDT Tuesday IMPACTS- Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9-1-1.
The Hays County Precinct 2 office in Kyle will be open as a cooling center on July 15 & 16 from noon-6 both days; that is our only known cooling center right now. The office is located at 5458 FM 2770 @ Crystal Meadow Drive in Kyle. Please check with municipalities about locations within their city limits. Anyone can visit places that are already open, such as libraries and activity centers. If large areas of the county experience power outages, we may stand up cooling centers at other locations and we would post info on https://www.haysinformed.com/ and social media if that happens. We will also notify news media.
Hays County, state and local officials helped celebrate the opening of the Robert S. Light Blvd. extension that connects I-35 and FM 1626. The project was headed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in partnership with Hays County and the City of Buda. The $17.8 million project was completed in less than two years (ahead of schedule by six months) and on budget. The contractor was J3 Company, LLC. Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith was among the speakers at the ribbon cutting ceremony held on July 13. “It’s been a privilege to work with the City of Buda and the Texas Department of Transportation,” he said. He added, “This is just one brick in building a better Hays County.” TxDOT Austin District Engineer Tucker Ferguson was another speaker at the event. “Exponential growth in Hays County creates more mobility and safety challenges to the region,” he said . “The completion of the extension of Robert S. Light Boulevard helps address these issues by providing a direct connection between FM 1626 and I-35 in order to reduce travel times.” Judge Ruben Becerra said Hays County is the fastest growing population in the country. “Not building roads is not an option,” he said. “And so for this and for the future, I thank you TxDOT.” The RM 967/Robert S. Light Boulevard extension project added a travel lane in each direction from RM 967 to FM 1626. Additional improvements included overpasses at the Union Pacific Railroad, the Mustang Branch of Onion Creek and the Centex Materials haul road, as well as the addition of turn lanes on RM 967 and FM 2770 to and from the newly constructed roadway. Progress on the extension project was documented from start to finish via a timelapse video. For time lapse drone video click here: https://txdot.box.com/s/vcipv98pvvbz6uvoeulhe3s6su9non4q.
Hays County Local Health Department (HCLHD) is hosting a back-to-school fair to encourage student vaccinations. The event takes place Aug. 5 just in time for the upcoming school year. The HCLHD is a participant in the Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) program, which provides low-cost vaccines to eligible children up to the age of 18 who meet the criteria. “It is very important that students receive their vaccinations in the weeks prior to school starting,” said Hays County Health Department Manager Matthew Gonzales. “Not only does this prepare the students for school, it makes it easier to obtain vaccinations without overwhelming local clinics.” HCLHD’s back-to-school fair will give parents and students the chance to receive free vaccinations under the TVFC program. TVFC is available for those who are participants in the Medicaid program, enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), American Indian or Alaska Native and uninsured or underinsured children. The vaccines provided include Hepatitis A, Polio, Varicella, and more. Parents can find which specific vaccines are needed for the school year on their child’s school website. HCLHD will continue with free back-to-school vaccines under the TVFC program between Aug. 7-11. “We are very excited for the back-to-school fair,” Gonzales said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to get their students vaccinated.” He added, “Vaccinations keep students healthy and protect them from diseases. Keeping up to date on vaccinations also contributes to a healthy school environment.” The HCLHD Back-to-School Fair is also an opportunity for the community to see the HCLHD’s new home, located at 101 Thermon Drive in San Marcos. Gonzales said it’s a community and family-friendly event. “We will have various vendors sharing resources and details about their services, similar to the Hays County Summer Health Fair,” Gonzales said. “We will also have games set up for the children to enjoy.” The event takes place on Aug. 5 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Contact Matthew Gonzales at (512) 214-5918 with any questions. For more information, be sure to like and follow the HCLHD Facebook page. It is recommended that children get school vaccines over summer break to avoid the end-of-summer rush. Anyone who is unable to attend the fair or come to the HCLHD clinic can find locations throughout Hays County where providers are enrolled in TVFC. Visit our website for info.
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