Posted 2:26 am Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Probation Violation Gets Man 5 Years
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
A Harrison County man who violated his probation by contacting his ex-wife on numerous occasions will serve prison time.
Staff Writer
A Harrison County man who violated his probation by contacting his ex-wife on numerous occasions will serve prison time.
Rusk County Fourth District Judge J. Clay Gossett sentenced Darrell Chadwick Mills, 32, Monday to five years in prison for violating the terms of his probation. Mills pleaded guilty to arson, a second-degree felony, last year and received seven years probation for setting fire to the home of his ex-wife and former father-in-law.
The fire was stopped before the home burned to the ground, Rusk County First Assistant District Attorney Richard Kennedy said.
During Mills' probation, he was to “have no contact of any kind” with his ex-wife or her family, according to a news release from the Rusk County/District Attorney's Office.
During Mills' probation, he was to “have no contact of any kind” with his ex-wife or her family, according to a news release from the Rusk County/District Attorney's Office.
However, he harassed and threatened the victims and hid at different friends' homes, victim assistance coordinator Jacob Crater has said. Ken-nedy said he called and text-ed his ex-wife at least 63 times.
He also was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Gregg County in September, the same month his warrant was issued for probation revocation.
He also was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Gregg County in September, the same month his warrant was issued for probation revocation.
Rusk County tried various times to locate Mills, even offering a reward of $500 for information leading to his arrest, and eventually passed information on to the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force, Crater has said.
Mills was apprehended earlier this month in the Hallsville area by the task force.
Because he violated probation, he faced a maximum of five years in prison.
Kennedy said he is pleased that Mills is off the streets and will serve prison time.
“The outcome of (Monday's) hearing should show that the Rusk County Attorney's Office, led by Micheal Jimerson, will not hesitate to bring to the judge's attention those who violate their terms and conditions of probation,” he said in a prepared statement. “Mills' flagrant disregard for the court's orders showed that he was not worthy of the second chance he received with a probated sentence. (Monday), we made things right.”
Longview Attorney Jon-athan Hyatt, who represented Mills, said, “It's unfortunate he's going to prison, but we had the opportunity to present our case.”
Mills was apprehended earlier this month in the Hallsville area by the task force.
Because he violated probation, he faced a maximum of five years in prison.
Kennedy said he is pleased that Mills is off the streets and will serve prison time.
“The outcome of (Monday's) hearing should show that the Rusk County Attorney's Office, led by Micheal Jimerson, will not hesitate to bring to the judge's attention those who violate their terms and conditions of probation,” he said in a prepared statement. “Mills' flagrant disregard for the court's orders showed that he was not worthy of the second chance he received with a probated sentence. (Monday), we made things right.”
Longview Attorney Jon-athan Hyatt, who represented Mills, said, “It's unfortunate he's going to prison, but we had the opportunity to present our case.”
