Lengthy Sentences Affirmed for Two East Texans

ATHENS � A pair of hefty sentences was affirmed last week by two Texas Courts of Appeals. KETK reports the convictions of George Wayne Smith (pictured) and Samuel DeWayne Colbert, both of Henderson County, were affirmed after both appealed their convictions.

The 12th Court of Appeals affirmed the 60-year sentence of Colbert, 27, of Athens. Colbert was first arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine in June of 2011 during a traffic stop. Colbert entered a plea of guilty to possession of a controlled substance in August 2011. However, Colbert failed to appear for his October 2011 sentencing. Sentencing was finally held after a two-and-a-half week search for Colbert. An investigator testified that when Colbert was arrested, he was found asleep with a knife on his waist and a semi-automatic firearm under the bed he was sleeping on. Authorities say that gun turned out to link Colbert to a burglary of 30 firearms that took place while he was running from law enforcement.

The 6th Court of Appeals affirmed the 99-year sentence of Smith after he was convicted of his 12th DWI related offense. A Henderson County jury sentenced Smith, 46, of Log Cabin, to the long prison term for an August 26th, 2011, early morning DWI on FM 3054 in Log Cabin.