Posted 12:17 am Friday, November 02, 2012
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Child sex ring defendent denied access to new trial
The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has ruled that Dennis Boyd Pittman, a defendant in the Mineola child sex ring cases, is not entitled to a new trial and must remain in prison for now.
Six of the defendants involved in the 2005 incidents — Sheila Darlene Sones, Jamie Pittman, Patrick Kelly, Shauntel Mayo, Rebecca Pittman and Jimmy Sones — pleaded guilty to charges of injury to a child, a third-degree felony, in the 241st District Court in May 2011.
The punishment range for that crime is two to 10 years, and they were credited for time served and released shortly after the plea hearing.
The cases centered around a group of young siblings who allegedly danced and engaged in sexual acts before a paying audience inside of a vacant day care center, then dubbed the “Mineola Swinger's Club.”
Pittman's case was not included with those because he had a case pending before the 12th Court of Appeals.
Smith County Assistant District Attorney Mike West said on Thursday that he expects Pittman to file a petition for discretionary review with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Pittman, 50, was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity and received a life sentence in July 2010.
Six of the defendants involved in the 2005 incidents — Sheila Darlene Sones, Jamie Pittman, Patrick Kelly, Shauntel Mayo, Rebecca Pittman and Jimmy Sones — pleaded guilty to charges of injury to a child, a third-degree felony, in the 241st District Court in May 2011.
The punishment range for that crime is two to 10 years, and they were credited for time served and released shortly after the plea hearing.
The cases centered around a group of young siblings who allegedly danced and engaged in sexual acts before a paying audience inside of a vacant day care center, then dubbed the “Mineola Swinger's Club.”
Pittman's case was not included with those because he had a case pending before the 12th Court of Appeals.
Smith County Assistant District Attorney Mike West said on Thursday that he expects Pittman to file a petition for discretionary review with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Pittman, 50, was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity and received a life sentence in July 2010.
