A Hemphill County grand jury convened here on Thursday, February 22, and returned with four indictments.

Jay Barton English, 40, was charged with two offenses—terroristic threat against a peace officer or judge, and assault of a peace officer or judge. Both indictments stem from a June 14, 2023, incident in which English is accused of threatening to kill HCSO Deputy Joel Swiger, a state jail felony, and subsequently hitting Swiger in the head as the officer attempted to take him into custody, a second-degree felony. English’s bond was set at a total of $32,500 for the two charges.

Diana Lynn Christenson, 70, was charged with possession of 1-4 grams of methamphetamine on July 14, 2023, a third-degree felony. Her bond was set at $15,000.

Kenneth Ray Lovell, 71, was charged with a third or more offense of driving while intoxicated on August 25, 2022, a third-degree felony. Lovell has two prior DWI convictions—one from January 2, 1973, in Wheeler County, and another from August 24, 2018, in Hemphill County. His bond was set at $15,000.

In County Court

Hemphill County Attorney Kyle Miller reported this week that Kyler Koch was tried in Hemphill County Court last month on a charge of resisting arrest. The jury found him guilty of the charge, and on January 26, Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson sentenced Koch to 6 months, which was immediately appealed. Koch remains free on bond.