Alvarado
SWAT callers receive jail time
A federal judge sentenced two defendants to prison on Friday for their participation in phone pranks and other crimes that, among numerous victims, involved an Alvarado family.
U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn sentenced Matthew Weigman, 19, to 135 months in prison and Paul Benton, 23, to 18 months in prison. Neither is a Texas resident.
Weigman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to retaliate against a witness, victim or informant and one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and unauthorized access of a protected computer.
Benton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to obstruct justice.
A third defendant, Carlton Nalley, pleaded guilty to the same offenses as Weigman but failed to appear in court for sentencing on Friday.
His case will be addressed at a later date, court officials said.
Another federal judge sentenced four other participants in the conspiracy to sentences ranging from 30 to 60 months last year.
The group’s actions affected more than 250 victims and resulted in about $250,000 worth of damages, said Kathy Colvin, spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks.
In swatting, the perpetrators falsely report an emergency to police that results in a response — sometimes involving a SWAT team, hence the name — to a different location, or make false reports to summon other first responders somewhere.
Swatters manipulate computer and phone equipment to make it appear the emergency calls are coming from their victim’s home.
On June 12, 2006, the group swatted an Alvarado family, which caused Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Cleburne police officers, including the department’s SWAT team, to surround the home of Jim Proulx.
Authorities believed Proulx had called 911 claiming to have killed some members of his family while high on hallucinogenic drugs.
The caller, pretending to be Proulx, told officials he was holding other family members hostage and threatened to kill them unless his demands for $50,000 and transportation were met.
Proulx hadn’t called or shot anyone. He was sound asleep when rescue personnel arrived.
On Oct. 1, 2006, Weigman called the Fort Worth Police Department identifying himself as Proulx and told police that, among other things, he had shot and killed family members.
Among other acts, Weigman also admitted to acts of retaliation against a Verizon fraud investigator who testified against Weigman’s co-conspirators last year.
- Alvarado
-
-
UPDATE: Soccer scores/playoff matchups
Updated soccer scores and playoff information
-
Lady Jackets knock off Alvarado, 1-0
On Feb. 2, the Cleburne Lady Jacket soccer team suffered a loss to Alvarado that head coach Laurie Ellison said proved to be a turning point in the season.
-
Suspect arrested in Alvarado shooting death
-
Time for giving
Santa Claus came a couple of days early — in a bright yellow tractor — for one family in Johnson County whose Christmas was looking dim this year.
-
Rio Vista woman receives award in Korean competition
Miranda Alvarado from Rio Vista was one of two University of North Texas students who received an honorable mention award in the international Lotte Green Marketing Strategy Competition sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Korea and hosted by Lotte Department Store, a major retailer in South Korea.
-
Alvarado grad completes infantry training
Army Pvt. Seth A. Norman has graduated from the Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga.
-
Alvarado woman dies in Tuesday fire
A residence fire Tuesday night claimed the life of a 51-year-old Alvarado woman, according to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
-
Forcey receives life without parole for Alvarado murder
Jurors in the 249th District Court deliberated for about an hour Friday before returning a guilty verdict against Alvarado resident Scottie Forcey.
-
Friend testifies about Forcey’s role in Alvarado shooting death
Scottie Forcey arrived home “kind of sweating and nervous” in the early morning hours of July 23, 2008, and said he shot a woman, a friend of the Forcey family testified in the 249th District Court on Wednesday.
-
Prosecutor: clear case of capital murder
The evidence to be presented against Scottie Forcey will clearly prove he committed capital murder, Johnson County Assistant District Attorney Martin Strahan told jurors in the 249th District Court during Tuesdays opening arguments in Forcey’s case.
- More Alvarado Headlines
-
UPDATE: Soccer scores/playoff matchups
