Tracking crime data can help residents learn about patterns in crime. News-Telegram staff have compiled crime data for the past two months and are publishing some of that in print. This map features crime entries from both Hopkins County Sheriff and Sulphur Springs Police. It spans May 14 to June 14, 2019. This records a month of offenses. Fifty-four offenses were committed in the county, and 44 of these occurred within city limits.
Misdemeanors, including A, B and C classifications are tracked in yellow. Class C misdemeanor is the lowest classification, including disorderly conduct, public intoxication, driving without a valid license and others. Class B misdemeanors are the next most serious, including failure to pay child support, minor drug possession and first offense driving while intoxicated.
The highest class of misdemeanor in Texas is misdemeanor A. Examples of class A misdemeanors are simple assault, resisting arrest and driving under the influence after the first offense.
State jail felonies are marked on this map in orange. In Texas, state jail felonies include theft after the third offense, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and possession of a controlled substance less than 1 gram. Penalties for state jail felonies range from six months to two years in a state prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Felonies are marked on the map in red. Felonies fall into three different classes: felony 3, felony 2 and felony 1. Third degree felonies in Texas are more serious than state jail felonies, as they carry a two to 10 year sentencing period and a fine up to $10,000. Some instances of third degree felony included on this map are unlawful carrying of a weapon, assault causes bodily injury to a family member restriction of breathing or circulation and forgery of financial instruments.
Second degree felony, the next most serious classification, carries a sentence of two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Crimes punishable by this sentence include arson, sexual assault and manslaughter. On our map, examples of second degree felonies include burglary of a habitation, aggravated assault and possession of methamphetamine between 4 and 200 grams.
First degree felony, also known as capital felony, is the most serious classification of crime. They are punishable at most by death or life without parole. Thankfully, none of these crimes have occurred in Hopkins County during this time period.
A more detailed accounting of these crimes can be found online at ssnewstelegram.com