Gilmer Man Sentenced To 14 Years On Drug Charges

James Earl Robertson pled guilty Thursday to Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver.

GILMER, TX, Jan. 29, 2009 -- Judge Lauren Parish presided over nine criminal plea trials Thursday, hearing seven guilty pleas and revoking probation on two men previously convicted of unrelated forgeries.

The harshest penalty handed down was to Robertson, 41, of Gilmer. Facing a maximum of 99 years for his 1st degree felony, Parish sentenced him to 14 years in prison on the drug trafficking charge. Upshur D.A. Billy Byrd prosecuted the case. Robertson was defended by Ryan Hill.

Parish revoked probation on Taylor Justin Dawson, 28, of Gilmer. Dawson, who pled true to the state's allegations, was sentenced to one year in prison for the crime of Forgery of a Financial Instrument, a State Jail felony. Byrd prosecuted.

Likewise, probation was revoked for Nicholas Damon Woods, 30, of Gladewater. Pleading true, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for Forgery of a Government Instrument, also a State Jail felony. Byrd prosecuted.

Other pleas heard, and sentences handed down, were:
* Damion Webb, 24, of Longview. Pled guilty to Assault, a class "A" misdemeanor. Sentenced to 60 days in the Upshur County Jail. Upshur Assistant District Attorney Edward Choy prosecuted the case.

* Charles Albert Beall, 19, of Ore City. Pled guilty to Burglary of a Building, a state jail felony. Sentenced to nine months in prison. Choy prosecuted.

* Gwendolyn Denise Pearce, 48, of Winona. Pled guilty to a subsequent offense of Driving While Intoxicated, a third degree felony. Sentenced to ten years in prison. Byrd prosecuted.

* Jimmy Keith Barber, 30, of Gilmer. Pled guilty to Robbery, a second degree felony. Sentenced to eight years in prison. Byrd prosecuted.

* Torchie Renee Pepper, 52, of Arlington. Pled guilty to a subsequent offense of Driving While Intoxicated. Sentenced to five years probation, and fined $1376.00. Byrd prosecuted.

*Decorian Timmons, 35, of Gladewater. Pled guilty to Theft, a class "A" misdemeanor. Sentenced to 18 months probation and fined $821.00. Byrd prosecuted.