Posted 10:13 pm Wednesday, February 27, 2013
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Appeals court upholds sexual assault convictions
Staff Reports
The Twelfth Court of Appeals in Tyler last week affirmed the conviction of Jeffrey Ross Seery, 43, of Athens, on three counts of sexual assault convictions and sentence of 20 years in prison on each count by a Henderson County jury, according to information from District Attorney R. Scott McKee.
The 392nd District Court ordered that the prison terms run consecutively.
Seery appealed his convictions, claiming that certain testimony should not have been heard by the jury and that some of his evidence, which was kept from the jury, should not have been, according to the district attorney.
Seery was arrested on Sept. 27, 2009, by Henderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responding to a call reporting that a 14-year-old girl had been assaulted at a residence on State Highway 31 near Athens. The case was then assigned to investigator Ceresa Ballard, who specialized in crimes against children. Ballard was assisted in the investigation by Captain Bryan Tower, also of the Henderson County Sherriff’s Office.
The officers arrested Seery at the scene on an existing warrant and transported him to the Henderson County Jail.
The 392nd District Court ordered that the prison terms run consecutively.
Seery appealed his convictions, claiming that certain testimony should not have been heard by the jury and that some of his evidence, which was kept from the jury, should not have been, according to the district attorney.
Seery was arrested on Sept. 27, 2009, by Henderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responding to a call reporting that a 14-year-old girl had been assaulted at a residence on State Highway 31 near Athens. The case was then assigned to investigator Ceresa Ballard, who specialized in crimes against children. Ballard was assisted in the investigation by Captain Bryan Tower, also of the Henderson County Sherriff’s Office.
The officers arrested Seery at the scene on an existing warrant and transported him to the Henderson County Jail.
The sheriff’s office said authorities also found two hand grenades, and a small amount of marijuana at the residence. Local officers notified the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Tyler which took possession of the grenades.
Evidence gathered during the search of the residence was presented to Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace Million Adams, who issued a warrant for Seery’s arrest.
During the trial in January 2011, the jury heard testimony from the victim who emotionally detailed her relationship with Seery and described how he groomed her from a young age to eventually engage in sexual acts with him.
Other witnesses testified that Seery claimed to be a high ranking special-forces paratrooper who suffered from PTSD and was about to be deployed to Afghanistan.
district attorney rebutted Seery’s claims by introducing Seery’s military record which indicated that he was never in combat and was discharged as a private from the military for various infractions.
The prosecution also introduced evidence that Seery had fooled many people into believing his military stories and that he used this ruse to separate his victim from her mother.
Seery can still petition the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to review the decision.
Evidence gathered during the search of the residence was presented to Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace Million Adams, who issued a warrant for Seery’s arrest.
During the trial in January 2011, the jury heard testimony from the victim who emotionally detailed her relationship with Seery and described how he groomed her from a young age to eventually engage in sexual acts with him.
Other witnesses testified that Seery claimed to be a high ranking special-forces paratrooper who suffered from PTSD and was about to be deployed to Afghanistan.
district attorney rebutted Seery’s claims by introducing Seery’s military record which indicated that he was never in combat and was discharged as a private from the military for various infractions.
The prosecution also introduced evidence that Seery had fooled many people into believing his military stories and that he used this ruse to separate his victim from her mother.
Seery can still petition the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to review the decision.
