Angelina County Sheriff's Office

05/14/2026

Child Po*******hy and Drug Arrest - On Wednesday, May 5, 2026, deputies with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on US Hwy 59 south of Lufkin on a vehicle for multiple traffic violations. Deputies contacted the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Kenneth Wayne Cassels Jr., 33, of Lufkin. During the course of the stop, Cassels discarded 2 bags containing what appeared to be Methamphetamine from the vehicle. Deputies recovered the discarded items and they were determined to contain approximately 59 grams of suspected methamphetamine.
Due to the quantity of narcotics recovered, deputies suspected that Cassels was involved in narcotics trafficking and to begin an investigation, a search warrant was obtained for Cassels’ cellular device. A forensic examination was conducted and investigators discovered suspected child sexual abuse material among the images on the phone. Upon this discovery, a second search warrant was sought and obtained for the obscenity and child exploitation related images. Over 300 images of suspected child sexual abuse material were found to be stored on the device. Cassels' phone images resulted in 5 counts of Possession or Promotion of Child Po*******hy, a First Degree Felony. Manufacture/Delivery of Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1 and Tampering with Physical Evidence, both felonies as well, were filed. Cassels is being held in the Angelina County Jail under a collective $600,000 in bonds. The Sheriff's Office appreciates the assistance of Special Agents from the Texas DPS Criminal Investigations Division and their work on this case.

04/25/2026

Mother Digs up Infant from Grave - Tamisha Cheyniece Drake, 33, of Lufkin, was arrested for Abuse of Co**se by Angelina County Sheriff's deputies after a report was received of a disturbed gravesite at a cemetery in the county. Deputies responded Thursday to Davis Memorial Gardens in the Cedar Grove area and found that the grave for a newborn infant had been dug up and the baby's body, and the container it was buried in, were missing. Information was developed during the course of the investigation that led deputies to Drake, the mother of the infant. During the course of an interview with deputies, Drake admitted that she had dug up the body. Drake then told investigators where she had left the container with the body. Deputies went to North Avenue in the city and located the container, with the body still inside, on the driveway of an unoccupied residence where Drake had told them it would be. The infant had not survived childbirth and died in early April. Colonial Mortuary of Lufkin had provided a proper burial for the infant and, along with officers from the Lufkin Police Department, assisted deputies during the investigation. Arraignment and bond settings are pending for Drake.

04/03/2026

Public Safety Information: ISIS Calls for Easter Attacks on Churches, Synagogues

There have been public reports released by federal authorities that the terror group ISIS has issued a call for Muslims to attack churches and synagogues in the United States, Europe, and Asia over the upcoming Easter and Jewish Passover holidays. According to open-source reports and social media posts, ISIS is calling for followers to set fire to churches and synagogues in the United States, Europe, Russia, UAE, Syria, Tunisia, and Morocco in response to the Israeli government’s closure of al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. On 02 April 2026, ISIS released Issue 541 of its weekly newsletter, al-Naba, in which ISIS called for the attacks against churches and synagogues. The newsletter claimed that ISIS had conducted 15 operations over the previous week that caused 60 casualties.

While there are no specific threats against any particular location, worshippers need to know these groups exist and wish to do harm and should be aware of those around them and report any unusual or suspicious persons or circumstances to local law enforcement.

Have a safe and most blessed weekend !

Send a message to learn more

03/11/2026

Notice of Public Auction – Surplus County Vehicles

The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, having been authorized by the Commissioner’s Court of Angelina County to dispose of surplus property, will sell the vehicles below at public auction. Sale will commence at 5:30pm on Thursday, March 26th, 2026, at Greater Lufkin Auto Auction, 2109 North John Redditt Dr., Lufkin and online at www.greaterlufkinaa.com. Bidders/purchasers must be registered with Greater Lufkin Auto Auction prior to the sale. Terms and setup information and questions may be answered by calling (936) 632-4299.

2007 Chevrolet Van VIN #: 1GCGG29VX71106433
2007 Chevrolet Tahoe VIN #: 1GNFC13J57R192007
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe VIN #: 1GNLCDEC8JR227391
2011 Expedition VIN #: 2FABP7BV8BX169196
2008 Ford Crown Victoria VIN #: 1FMFU15508LA63582
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe VIN #: 1GNLCDEC1GR156401
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe VIN #: 1GNLCDEC4JR227176
2020 Chevrolet Tahoe VIN #: 1GNLCDECXLR159761
2017 Chevrolet Pickup 4WD VIN #: 3GCUKNEC6HG291347
2020 Chevrolet Tahoe VIN #: 1GNLCDEC7LR161287

Send a message to learn more

03/03/2026

Shooting Victim’s Names Released

Arturo Dionisio Sanabria, 29 years of age and Robert Tamez, 23 years of age, both of Lufkin, died from gunshot wounds at the scene of the previously reported shooting at The Hangout on US 69 south of Lufkin in the early morning hours of February 28th. Further details about the events leading up to and including the shooting will be released upon conclusion of the investigation.

02/28/2026

Two men dead after shooting

Shortly after 2 AM Saturday morning, Feb 28th, the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a shooting that had occurred on property outside The Hangout located on US Highway 69 near Carpets by Curiosity just south of Lufkin. Deputies arrived and found two gunshot victims. Both were males ages 23 and 29 and they were deceased at the scene. The investigation is ongoing and anyone that has information or was a witness to what occurred is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office. District Attorney Amy Wren and her staff are assisting in the investigation. More information will be released when it becomes available.

02/16/2026

3 Charged in Drug Death - On Friday, February 13th, Angelina County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Angelina County District Attorney’s Office began a drug-related death investigation that has resulted in Murder charges against three men. Angelina deputies responded to a 911 call of a reported possible seizure or overdose at a residence on Benton Drive just outside Lufkin. Deputies arrived and found Sierra Grace Duckworth, 18 YOA of Lufkin, unconscious at the scene. Duckworth was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

While attempting to determine what led to Duckworth’s condition, her boyfriend, Coy Allen Cook, 21YOA of Lufkin, told officers that they both had taken some blue Fentanyl pills approximately 2 hours earlier. Statements were made that Cook and Logan Wayne Ferguson, 19 YOA of Lufkin, went to the Hudson residence of Roderick “Squirrel” Johnson, 25 YOA and made a purchase of Fentanyl from Johnson. Text messages in the victim’s phone on the day of the death were located where a purchase of pills was set up and Johnson sent his address as the location for the pickup of the drugs. Ferguson told investigators he and Cook went to Johnson’s residence and bought the pills. Upon return, Cook and Duckworth later took a portion of the pills they had purchased with Duckworth becoming unconscious thereafter. Ferguson stated he was present when Duckworth overdosed but left the house before law enforcement arrived. Deputies notified Angelina County District Attorney Amy Wren of the circumstances surrounding the death and her office assisted in obtaining warrants for the suspects and residence after probable cause was established. Later in the night, a Search Warrant was executed on the Johnson residence in Hudson, the source of the drugs. Lufkin PD Street Crimes officers and Sheriff’s Deputies converged on the Hudson location, executed the Warrant and arrested Johnson. Suspected Fentanyl, Ma*****na, a large sum of cash and other evidence was collected at the scene. Additional charges could be filed in this case due to the victim being pregnant at the time of death. The sheriff’s office is experiencing a high level of assistance and cooperation from the new District Attorney and appreciate her office’s involvement in these early stages of case preparation.

“Texas law provides for a charge of Murder when a person dies as a result of the delivery of any controlled substance that is injected, ingested, inhaled or otherwise introduced into a victim’s body. Area law enforcement officers are seeing an uptick in Fentanyl related arrests and this drug is one of the more dangerous ones that officers are currently dealing with. We urge caution to the public, and to drug users as well, that Fentanyl can be lethal in even small doses. We ask for your prayers for this young lady's family and friends on the heels of this tragedy” – Tom Selman, Sheriff

A fund has been set up to assist with funeral expenses for the victim: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-lay-gracie-to-rest-3vtym/donate?source=btn_donate

01/26/2026

Houston County Cattle Rustling - Three indicted on livestock theft charges

FORT WORTH, Texas (January 26, 2026) — Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers led an investigation that resulted in felony indictments against Jessie Coleman of Lovelady, Andrea Houston of Houston and Cole Hoot Jr. of Dodge for theft of livestock valued at less than $150,000.

On April 12, 2025, Special Ranger Darrel Bobbitt received a report of missing cattle from a property located south of Crockett in Houston County. The following day, Bobbitt received information indicating the cattle may not have been estray, but instead stolen, prompting a formal investigation.

Through the investigation, three possible suspects were identified. Bobbitt later obtained a confession from one of the suspects, which led to the location and recovery of all stolen cattle.

The case was submitted to the Houston County District Attorney’s Office and presented to a grand jury. After reviewing the evidence, the grand jury returned a true bill of indictment against Coleman, Houston and Hoot on charges of theft of livestock valued at less than $150,000.

All three individuals surrendered to law enforcement, were booked into jail and have since been released on bond while awaiting trial.

Special Ranger Bobbitt was assisted by Special Ranger Chace Fryar of Huntsville and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers thank the Houston County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance throughout the investigation.

01/22/2026

Jo Ann Chastain - The Angelina County Sheriff's Office extends our deepest sympathy to the family of retired long-time Angelina County Clerk Jo Ann Chastain upon her passing. Us in law enforcement from way back when are especially fond of Jo Ann through our association with her late husband, Owen, who retired from the Lufkin Fire Dept. and was a long time deputy in the sheriff's reserves prior to his passing.

Jo Ann began her service to the citizens of Angelina County in June of 1984 as a Deputy Clerk for then-County Clerk Pauline Grisham and assumed the office of County Clerk upon her election on 1/1/1995. Jo Ann was elected for 5 terms and had over 30 years of service to the county when she retired on 12/31/2014. Jo Ann was a classy lady, ran a good office and she and her clerks always delivered a high level of service to their constituents. Funeral services for Jo Ann will be Tuesday, January 27th at 10am in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with interment following at Whitehouse Cemetery. Please remember JoAnn's family in your prayers at this time. Tom Selman

01/20/2026

Lost Dog? Very Sweet - The sheriff's office received a call from a disabled elderly person today about a dog they believed had been dumped off at their home in the Bald Hill area. The residents are unable to care for this pup and he is very sweet. Our animal control officer picked the dog up and has transported it to the animal shelter to get it out of the cold and fed. This is a very sweet dog and we want to reunite it with its family or find a loving home for this cute pup. If you know where this pooch belongs, please contact us or the animal shelter. If you don't and you love animals, this could be the one to bring joy to your home. Thanks for any help you can provide. Please share!