JONATHAN WHITAKER CONVICTED IN BURLESON COUNTY

  

Jonathan Clark Whitaker, 33, of Somerville, was convicted by a jury of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, a third degree felony, late Tuesday night.  Judge Carson Campbell presided over the trial in the 21st District Court.  Assistant District Attorneys Joan Scroggins and Erica Morgan represented the State at trial, and Trey Dunne represented the Defendant.

Whitaker was arrested after a joint investigation by local authorities and the ATF revealed that in October he had sold a firearm that was stolen from a residence in Brenham.  On December 18, 2014 a search warrant was executed at Whitaker’s residence after a neighbor reported Whitaker was again trying to sell firearms and acting strangely.   During execution of the search warrant, law enforcement discovered multiple handguns, marihuana, prescription pills, and a substance believed to be methamphetamine.  Lab tests are still pending to identify the possible methamphetamine.

Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon is a third degree felony carrying a punishment range of 2-10 years confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  Based on Whitaker’s additional criminal history the offense has been enhanced and Whitaker is subject to a punishment range of 2-20 years incarceration.  The narcotics charges are all alleged to have been committed within a Drug Free Zone due to the proximity of Somerville school property which can increase the punishment ranges of those charges, as well.  Judge Campbell will sentence Whitaker, in the case in which he was just convicted, on November 16.

Scroggins spoke afterward, “When a person becomes a felon, they lose some of their rights.  In this case, Mr. Whitaker made the conscious decision to ignore the law and possessed a number of firearms after being convicted of prior felonies.”  “We are pleased,” she continued, “that a Burleson County jury recognizes the importance of both holding people to the consequences of their choices, and following the laws of our State.”

Later, District Attorney Julie Renken commented, “We are pleased with the work all Somerville Police Department put into this case.  Hopefully we can send a message that guns and drugs don’t mix, especially in Burleson County.”