Tyler man indicted for manslaughter in connection with death of teen struck by boat on Lake Palestine

Published 4:30 pm Friday, September 20, 2019

The Smith County Courthouse in downtown Tyler is shown. (Chelsea Purgahn/Tyler Morning Telegraph/File)

A 31-year-old Tyler man has been indicted by a Smith County grand jury on a manslaughter charge in connection with the June 2 death of a 14-year-old Tyler boy.

The grand jury handed up Jeffrey Joe Hampton’s indictment for the charges of manslaughter and accidental boating death.



Roberto Carlos Bermejo Hernandez, a Moore Middle School student, was struck and killed by a bass boat while swimming at Lake Palestine, according to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.

The boat that hit the teen left the scene before authorities arrived. The death occurred at Lakeway Harbor off State Highway 155, according to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.

Hampton was arrested June 3 by Texas Parks and Wildlife and booked into Smith County Jail, according to jail records. He has a bond of $750,000 for the manslaughter charge and $250,000 for the boating death charge, according to the indictment.

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In all, the Smith County grand jury handed up indictments for 27 people on 31 felony charges in its Aug. 22 session.

Other indictments include:

Erin Ashby, 29, of Tyler, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon

Amanda Cain, 38, of Tyler, theft

Stuart Campbell, 29, of Longview, possession of a controlled substance

Richard Dykes, 54, of Tyler, manufacture delivery of a controlled substance

Shakala Jones, 22, of Tyler, indecency with a child

Corey Jordan, 34, of Tyler, possession of a controlled substance

Cayla Kennimer, 29, of Tyler, possession of a controlled substance

Johnathan Lee, 36, of Tyler, possession of a controlled substance

Taylor Lira, 28, of Tyler, possession of a controlled substance

Coulter Luce, 39, of Tyler, possession of a controlled substance

Triston Marshall, 20, of Grand Saline, possession of a controlled substance

Cristian Martinez, 21, of Tyler, burglary of a habitation

Justin Meador, 27, of Tyler, criminal mischief, theft, possession of a controlled substance and prohibited substance/item in a correctional facility

Alan Medina, 26, of Tyler, driving while intoxicated third or more time

Jordan Medford, 30, of Troup, forgery financial instrument

Jnieva Pannell, 28, of Tyler, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon

Earl Reynolds, 41, of Tyler, possession of a controlled substance

Randy Riley, 53, of Trenton, Georgia, possession of a controlled substance

Emanuel Rioyos-Espinoza, 25, of Tyler, possession of a controlled substance

Leodegario Rodriguez, 27, of Tyler, possession of a controlled substance

Windell Simmons, 36, of Tyler, indecency with a child sexual contact

John Thull, 47, of Arlington, theft

Chance Wilkerson, 36, of Tyler, possession of a controlled substance

Cashondra Williams, 51, of Dallas, forgery financial instrument

Bryan Wynn, 34, of Tyler, burglary of a habitation

Shae Young, 43, of Bullard, driving while intoxicated for a third time or more

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