VOL 5 ·ISSUE 51 PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #60 WINNIE, TX
J u r y Sent ences Te en t o 75 Years in Pri so n
The Walker County Press received the following news release from the Walker County District Attorney’s Office: A Walker County jury has found 16-yearold Jamontre Mouton guilty for the murder of 21- year-old Jalen McDuffie. Mouton had previously been certified to stand trial as an adult by County Court
at Law Judge Tracy Sorenson after a certific tion hearing was held because he was 15 years old at the time of the offense. On October 11, 2021, the same jury who convicted Mouton heard punishment evidence presented by prosecutors with the Walker County District Attorney’s Office. The jury sentenced Mouton to 75 years confine-
ment in prison. Judge Hal Ridley of the 278th District Court presided over the 6 day trial. “Considering this juvenile’s criminal background, violent history, and maturity level, we felt it was necessary to seek his certification to be tried as an adult where he would face a broader sentence than what the juvenile system would allow,” stated Criminal District Attorney Will Durham. “It appears that one of the main reasons for the jury’s 75 year sentence was to protect our community from this defendant’s escalating violent conduct. I’m proud of the excellent preparation and trial work done by my office and by the investigating officers.” The murder stems from a May 31, 2020 shooting that occurred at the Summit Apartments on Lake Road when Mouton shot McDuffie once in the throat and once in the back. McDuffie later died from his injuries. Mouton had initiated (contd on page 7)
Thursday October 21, 2021
B l a c k Wa ln u ts A v a ila b le a t G i b b s - Po w e ll H o me
If you want a snack with a rich, bold, distinctive flavor try a black walnut. Also, called an eastern black walnut, these trees are native to the eastern regions of North America. The Walker County area is on the most western edge of the natural growing range of this tree. The tree is valued for its decorative wood and is often used for furniture and paneling.
Some trees are also planted as ornamentals and are cultivated for the dye found in the fruit husks. Early Native Americans would use the dye for face painting and markings on their belongings. The fruit of the tree is edible and shelled commercially in the United States. The nutmeat is popular in baked goods such as cakes and cookies along with salads,
meat and pasta dishes. Even the sweet sap of the tree can be drunk or concentrated into a syrup or sugar. Processing of the kernel by hand can be difficult. The thick, hard shell is tightly bound to a thick husk. Rolling the nut under foot on a hard surface such as a driveway is a common method of removing the kernel. American pioneers let the nuts dry in the sun before removing the husks. Then they dried out the kernels. The black walnut tree grows slowly, maturing in about 150 years. The Walker County Museum at the Gibbs-Powell Home has one of these beautiful trees in the backyard and would like to share this year’s fruit collection with the community. If you would like a free bag of black walnuts (while supplies last), drop by the back of the museum Tuesday – Friday from 12 to 5 or Saturday from 12 to 4.