GDELTTexas
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Taylor County grand jury indicts man in sexual assault case
ABILENE, Texas — A Taylor County grand jury has indicted Jonathan Hernandez in a sexual assault case stemming from allegations that were reported to police in 2025.
According to court documents, the allegation was reported to the Abilene Police Department on April 28, 2025.
RELATED | Taylor County man indicted on kidnapping, assault, and drug charges
The woman and her mother told officers about an alleged sexual assault in Taylor County.
The court document state that the woman had been in a relationship with Hernandez and that the relationship ended sometime in April 2025.
According to the filing, the woman told investigators that after returning from a college preparation camp, she spent time with Hernandez before work.
The woman reported that she told Hernandez multiple times that she did not want to have sexual intercourse.
RELATED | Taylor County grand jury indicts Abilene man on child injury charge
The filing further states that Hernandez later apologized to the complainant in text messages for sexually assaulting her.
According to the woman, she said she did not initially report the alleged assault because she feared retaliation.
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Man indicted following undercover prostitution operation in Taylor County
ABILENE, Texas — A Taylor County grand jury has indicted a man accused of attempting to pay for sex during an undercover prostitution operation conducted by law enforcement earlier this year.
According to court documents, Gilbert Lara was indicted following an investigation that stemmed from a Texas Department of Public Safety prostitution operation on Feb. 25, 2026.
RELATED | 11 Arrested in Abilene Prostitution, Online Solicitation Sting
The documents state a detective was working undercover and posing online as an adult female prostitute.
Investigators said Lara contacted the undercover account through Reddit seeking sex in exchange for money.
Court documents allege that after a time and meeting location were arranged, Lara sent a nude photograph and requested one in return.
Authorities said officers then went to the agreed-upon location and waited for Lara to arrive.
According to the documents, Lara arrived at the meeting location in a white Hyundai sedan and was taken into custody.
RELATED | Man indicted after allegedly agreeing to pay for sex in Taylor County sting
After being advised of his rights, a Detective asked Lara if he understood why he was being arrested, the document states. Investigators allege Lara responded that he was going to pay the woman for sex.
The documents states the incident occurred in Taylor County and alleges that Lara knowingly offered a fee for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct, specifically sexual intercourse.
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Taylor County man indicted on drug charge following 2025 crash
ABILENE, Texas — A Taylor County grand jury has indicted Daniel Earl Johnson on a felony drug charge stemming from a traffic crash that led authorities to discover drugs, cash, and firearms.
According to court records, Johnson was indicted on a charge of possession of hydrocodone.
RELATED | North Abilene shooting suspect indicted for aggravated assault
The charge stems from a Nov. 23, 2025, crash in Taylor County.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to the three-vehicle wreck and determined Johnson had allegedly failed to control his speed, causing the crash.
While investigating the scene, troopers reported smelling marijuana coming from Johnson's vehicle.
A subsequent search allegedly uncovered about 4.5 pounds of marijuana, 13.4 grams of hydrocodone, 13.9 grams of alprazolam, and a bottle of promethazine syrup.
Authorities also reported finding $4,676 in cash and four firearms.
RELATED | 2 arrested, 1 sought in Friday's Cedar Street shootout in Abilene
According to court documents, one handgun was located inside the vehicle, while three additional firearms were found in a bag behind a nearby sign.
Investigators said Johnson admitted ownership of the drugs, cash, and firearms.
The affidavit also states that he told troopers there was information related to narcotics sales on his cellphone.
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Taylor County man indicted on kidnapping, assault, and drug charges
ABILENE, Texas — A Taylor County grand jury has indicted an Abilene man on multiple charges, including aggravated kidnapping, assault family violence enhanced, and possession of methamphetamine.
Draco Betomie Johnson faces three separate cases tied to incidents that documents show occurred between September 2025 and April 2026.
RELATED | Taylor County man indicted on drug charge following 2025 crash
Assault Family Violence Enhanced:
One indictment accuses Johnson of assaulting a woman he had been dating on Sept. 12, 2025.
According to court documents, the woman told police Johnson became convinced another man was inside her apartment and began searching the residence.
Investigators said he used a hammer to punch holes in the walls before allegedly choking the woman and covering her mouth to keep her from screaming.
Investigators also allege Johnson took her cellphone, preventing her from calling police.
Prosecutors said the charge was enhanced because Johnson had previously been convicted of a family violence offense involving a dating relationship.
RELATED | Taylor County grand jury indicts Abilene man on child injury charge
Aggravated Kidnapping:
In a separate indictment, Johnson was charged with aggravated kidnapping following an incident at an Allsup's convenience store on April 3, 2026.
According to court records, a store clerk reported seeing Johnson and a woman arguing inside the store.
The clerk told police the woman appeared frightened and said she did not want to leave with Johnson.
Investigators allege Johnson grabbed the woman by the arms and forced her outside, despite her resistance.
Court documents state witnesses saw the woman kicking her legs and telling him to stop.
Johnson allegedly pushed her into a brown Buick and drove away.
Police later tracked down the vehicle and located both Johnson and Vasquez. According to court documents, Johnson briefly fled on foot before officers caught him.
RELATED | Woman finds hidden phone in bathroom; Taylor County man indicted
Possession of Methamphetamine:
Johnson was also indicted on a drug possession charge stemming from a March 30, 2026 traffic stop in Abilene.
According to investigators, an officer stopped a vehicle Johnson was driving for expired registration and discovered the license plates did not belong to the vehicle.
While Johnson stood outside the car, another officer reportedly spotted a plastic baggie on the ground near his feet.
The substance inside later field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed less than one gram, according to court documents.
Investigators said Johnson later admitted the substance was methamphetamine.
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Taylor County grand jury indicts Abilene man on child injury charge
ABILENE, Texas — A Taylor County grand jury has indicted Larry Donte Allen on a charge alleging injury to a child following an incident that occurred Jan. 12, 2026.
According to court documents, Allen is accused of intentionally and knowingly causing bodily injury to a child 14 years of age or younger by throwing the child to the ground.
The court documents state that an Abilene police officer responded to Hendrick Medical Center-South on Jan. 12 after receiving a report of a domestic assault.
RELATED | Taylor County man indicted on kidnapping, assault, and drug charges
According to the document, the children's mother told police that Allen had recently dropped off two children at her home following a court-ordered possession exchange.
The court documents states one child later told investigators that after returning home from school, Allen became upset after not being acknowledged.
Documents allege a verbal disagreement escalated when Allen picked the child up and slammed the child to the floor, causing pain to the head.
The document further alleges that a second confrontation occurred later.
Court documents state that a second confrontation occurred later in the day, during which Allen allegedly threw the child to the floor and physically restrained the child.
According to the filing, the child reported difficulty breathing during the incident.
RELATED | Taylor County man indicted on drug charge following 2025 crash
The documents state another child witnessed the first incident but was not present during the second alleged assault.
According to the document, the child was taken the following day to Hendrick Medical Center-North for what the documents describe as a strangulation examination.
The filing also states that Allen later met with an Abilene police detective. During that interview, Allen said one of the children did not acknowledge him upon arriving at his apartment after school.
The document states Allen told investigators he grabbed the child and slammed the child onto the floor.
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