Posted 11:15 pm Saturday, March 02, 2013
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2010 conviction; life sentence will stand unless Dennis Pittman files for rehearing
BY DAYNA WORCHEL
dworchel@tylerpaper.com
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has agreed with a lower Texas appeals court in Tyler and says the 2010 conviction of Dennis Boyd Pittman, a defendant in the 2005 Mineola child sex ring cases, is not entitled to a new trial and will remain in prison.
dworchel@tylerpaper.com
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has agreed with a lower Texas appeals court in Tyler and says the 2010 conviction of Dennis Boyd Pittman, a defendant in the 2005 Mineola child sex ring cases, is not entitled to a new trial and will remain in prison.
Pittman has 15 days to file a motion for a rehearing in the Court of Criminal Appeals, Smith County Assistant District Attorney Mike West said Friday.
West said it is unusual for the higher court to grant such a motion, but that it is impossible to predict what a court could do.
If Pittman does not file a motion for a rehearing, then the conviction will stand, West said.
Six of the defendants involved in the 2005 Mineola Child Sex Ring 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.
West said it is unusual for the higher court to grant such a motion, but that it is impossible to predict what a court could do.
If Pittman does not file a motion for a rehearing, then the conviction will stand, West said.
Six of the defendants involved in the 2005 Mineola Child Sex Ring 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 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.
Pittman, 50, was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity and received a life sentence in July 2010.
The cases centered around a group of young siblings who allegedly danced and engaged in sexual acts before a paying audience inside 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.
Pittman, 50, was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity and received a life sentence in July 2010.
