Recent District Court proceedings

Defendants were placed on probation, ordered to jail, and sent to rehabilitation during recent court proceedings in the 46th Judicial District Court in Vernon.

Woodrow Ethan Quoyser, 19, of Vernon, was placed on probation for a period of five years and ordered to a court residential treatment center following his plea of guilty to the offense of evading arrest with a motor vehicle and burglary of a building.

On October 17, 2019, a Vernon police officer attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Quoyser at 2:00am for failing to utilize headlights. Quoyser refused to stop and accelerated away from the officer. Shortly thereafter, Qouyser lost control of the vehicle, it went airborne, and then the engine died.

After detaining Quoyser, who attempted to flee on foot, officers learned that the car belonged to Helen Farabee MHMR and that Quoyser had stolen it after breaking into the facility to obtain the keys.

As part of the plea, Quoyser was required to spend 180 days in the Wilbarger County jail. He also must successfully complete a residential drug rehabilitation program lasting between 6 months and 2 years depending upon his participation. Qouyser was also ordered to pay a fine of $2,500, complete 250 hours of community service, and to make $16,536.49 in restitution. He was represented by Rick Bunch of Wichita Falls.

Jason Lee Nelson, 35, of Vernon, was placed on probation for two years following his plea of guilty to assault family violence. On May 17, 2020, Vernon police were dispatched to a residence in reference to a domestic assault.

Upon arrival at the location, the officers encountered the victim who was visibly shaken. She claimed that Nelson had assaulted her following an argument in the residence. The victim fled the assault by running to a nearby residence and calling 911. Nelson was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000, complete 100 hours of community service, and successfully complete a batterer intervention and prevention program. He was represented by Tom Oliver of Vernon.

Robyn Lynn Webber, 24, of Vernon, was placed on probation for a period of three years following her plea of guilty to possession of a controlled substance.

On January 26, 2020, Webber was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over for a traffic violation. During the course of the stop, officers noted a number of criminal indicators and a K9 was called to perform a free air sniff.

After a positive alert, officers found a small amount of methamphetamine that Webber later admitted was her. Webber was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,500, complete 150 hours of community service, and participate in out-patient substance abuse counseling. She was represented by Frank Trotter of Wichita Falls.

Joseph Carroll Baker, 53, of Vernon, was sentenced to one year in the county jail following his plea of guilty to possession of a controlled substance.

On February 3, 2020, Baker was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for driving while license invalid and an inventory search of the vehicle was performed.

Baker admitted that there were some pipes in the back seat that belong to him. Officers discovered meth pipes that contained a small amount of methamphetamine. Baker was also represented by Rick Bunch.

The cases were prosecuted by the 46th Judicial District Attorney’s Office while District Judge Dan Mike Bird presided over the hearings and assessed the sentences.