LECSmA Brownwood man reported to police Monday, May 18th that he had lost $2900 in what he believed was a phone scam involving the lottery.  According to the report, the victim often plays the lottery, including out of state games, such as a lottery in Las Vegas.

The victim was contacted by phone and informed that he had apparently missed a letter in the mail and that his prize had gone unclaimed for several months, the report states.  The caller, who represented he was with the unclaimed award lottery division of Virginia, asked the victim to obtain a bond from an American based insurance company for the money transfer to be completed, according to the report.  The victim received another call from a representative stating to be with the Federal Trade Commission in California, who instructed him to deposit $2900 into an account with Bank of America to cover fees and processing expenses, according to the report.

When he spoke again to the unclaimed award lottery division, he was told that the second caller did not work for the FTC and he realized he had most likely been scammed, according to the report.  The victim then contacted Bank of America in an attempt to stop the transfer of money, the report states.  Attempts by the officer to contact the unclaimed lottery division of Virginia and the insurance company the victim had contacted were not successful, according to the report.  A search by police of the address of the FTC representative in California was tracked back to a two bedroom condominium, according to the officer’s report.

In other unrelated law enforcement arrests and reports released Tuesday, May 19, 2015:

Monday, May 18

*7:05 AM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to the 4200 block of South US Hwy 377 regarding trespassing.  This call led to the arrest of 37-year-old Gregory Lamar Jones of Brownwood who had an active criminal trespass warning for the location.  Jones was arrested for the offense of criminal trespass.

*8:59 AM – Brownwood Police received a report of alleged child abuse. According to the report, the complainant stated that her 10-year-old son had sustained an injury while at a community center, due to a staff member playing a “game.”  The incident was documented and Child Protective Services was contacted for further investigation, the report states.

*3:39 PM – A Brown County Sheriff’s deputy made a traffic stop on a vehicle on County Road 411 in May.  According to the report, the stop led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 25-year-old Lance Lynn Robertson of May, for driving while license suspended with no liability insurance and failure to maintain financial responsibility.  During an inventory search of the vehicle, the deputy located a packet labeled as incense, which due to the deputy’s training, he believed was K-2, a controlled substance, the report states.  Robertson’s vehicle was also displaying a registration which belonged to another vehicle, according to the report.  Robertson was additionally charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and displaying wrong, fictitious, altered or obscured insignia.

*5:44 PM – Brownwood Police were called to the 400 block of W. Commerce regarding theft.  According to the report, a store loss prevention employee observed the suspect loading items into Walmart shopping bags.  The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Roseann Ortega of Brownwood, then walked up to the front of the store, walking past the checkout counters and out the front doors on the grocery end, the report states.  Ortega was detained by the employee, according to police, and was later issued a trespass warning for the property.  Items taken were valued at $522.63, according to the report.  Ortega was the arrested, charged with theft of property greater than $500 less than $1500.

*9:55 PM – Brownwood Police were called to the 600 block of W. Commerce Street regarding a hit and run.  According to the report, the complainant stated that her vehicle was struck by a white Chevy Tahoe which then left the scene.  An investigation is ongoing, the report states.

*Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested 34-year-old Tony Aguilar of Early for possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1 equal or greater than 1 gram less than 4 grams.  Aguilar was being held in the Brown County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond as of Tuesday morning.

*Brownwood Police arrested 33-year-old Eric Edward Babcock of Bangs on warrants related to failure to appear, driving while license invalid and speeding 10% or above.

* 44-year-old Steven Price of May was arrested for deadly conduct discharge of firearm. Edwards was later released on $10,000 bond.

*Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested 31-year-old Jeanna Hopkins of Brownwood for possession of controlled substance penalty group 1 equal or greater than 1 gram less than 4 grams and tamper with physical evidence with intent to impair.  Hopkins was being held in lieu of bonds totaling $30,000 as of Tuesday morning.

*Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested 36-year-old Antonio Soldevilla of Wilmer on a warrant related to surety withdrawal/possession of a controlled substance with intent to delivery.

*Brownwood Police arrested 49-year-old Timothy Kevin Tulcus of Brownwood on a warrant related to possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces.

*10:05 PM – Brownwood Police were called to an apartment complex in the 4200 block of South Hwy 377 regarding a civil standby.  According to the report, the complainant’s male friend, who was determined to be a sex offender registered in Coleman County, was found to be living at the apartment  and had failed to change his address from Coleman County to Brown County.  As a result of this call, 57-year-old Nathan Elmer Weverka was arrested, charged with sex offender’s duty to register life/annually.  Weverka was being held in the Brown County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond as of Tuesday morning.

Tuesday, May 19

*12:56 AM – Brownwood Police were called to a suspicious vehicle parked behind the convenience store in the 3800 block of 4th Street.  According to the report, a male subject, identified as 26-year-old Christopher Ryan Silva of Santa Anna was found to be intoxicated and admitted to driving to the location.  A female on scene also witnessed Silva had driven to the location, the report states.  After failing several field sobriety tests, Silva was arrested for driving while intoxicated 3rd or more, according to the report.  Silva was being held in the Brown County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond as of Tuesday morning.

All arrestees are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Blotter information compiled from local law enforcement reports and jail records.