Lavaca County Sheriff's Office

09/04/2026

On August 31, 2026, Visiting Judge Martha Jamison presided over jury selection in State v. Noah Hermes. This was Mr. Hermes’ second trial this year. A jury was selected and testimony began on Monday.

Mr. Hermes was serving an eight-year sentence but was returned to Lavaca County to stand trial for two counts of aggravated s*xual assault. On September 02, 2026, the jury convicted Mr. Hermes on two counts of s*xual assault which were lesser included offenses of the original charges. Mr. Hermes will be required to register as a s*x offender for the remainder of his life.

Mr. Hermes chose the judge to sentence him, and today Judge Jamison sentenced Mr. Hermes to fifteen years on count one and five years on count two. Mr. Hermes had faced 2-20 years in prison and was not probation eligible. In addition to the fifteen years, Judge Jamison ordered the fifteen years to run consecutively to the current eight-year sentence Mr. Hermes is serving. The five year sentence will run concurrently.

The prosecution team consisted of Assistant County Attorney Matthew Jirkovsky and Tina Richardson from the Texas Attorney General’s Office. This offense occurred on August 1, 2022. Ms. Richardson and her team—Sgt. Victoria McMain, Sgt. Brian Seales, Sgt. Angie Shawhan, Jacob Boos, and Lori Carter—became involved in the prosecution of the case in 2023.

A special thanks to Ms. Richardson and her team for their hard work in investigating a large number of criminal complaints against Mr. Hermes. Although the case initially presented significant evidentiary and investigative obstacles, the prosecution did not allow those challenges to prevent the victim from receiving justice. Through extensive review, additional investigation, and careful preparation, the prosecution was able to develop the evidence necessary to successfully present the case.

Norma’s House personnel and Noella Hill, the S*xual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), were instrumental in preserving critical evidence and information in the immediate aftermath of this s*xual assault. Their work was an important part of ensuring that evidence and information remained available as the case moved forward.

Due to the nature of the case, Mr. Hermes will serve at least half of the fifteen-year sentence before he is eligible for parole, but the fifteen-year sentence will not begin until Mr. Hermes either completes his current eight-year sentence or makes parole on his current eight-year sentence.

The Lavaca County Attorney’s Office is grateful to everyone who contributed to bringing this case to a successful conclusion and, most importantly, to obtaining justice for the victim.

09/04/2026

This afternoon, LCSO deputies stopped a vehicle in Lavaca County for traffic violations.

The occupants of the vehicle were identified as Andrew Welch and Kyle Redding of Hallettsville.

A probable search of the vehicle later revealed approximately 8 grams of methamphetamine concealed in the vehicle.

Both Andrew and Kyle were charged with possession of a controlled substance and were transported to the Lavaca County Jail.

** All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. **

09/03/2026

On today’s date, an LCSO deputy stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in Lavaca county. The vehicle had two occupants. When asked for identification, the passenger, later identified as Guadalupe Lopez-Cortez, was unable to provide identification. Further information was received which provided the LCSO deputy with reason to believe that Guadalupe was in the country illegally.

An ICE agent was notified and later interviewed Guadalupe. This interview revealed he is a Citizen and National of Mexico who is illegally present in the United States.

Further record checks revealed Guadalupe had been removed from the U.S. on three previous occasions. Criminal records further revealed Guadalupe has a criminal conviction for a state charge as well.

The law enforcement professionals of the Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office will continue to collaborate with ICE and uphold the oath we all took upon being sworn in to this position and we will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State.

In fact, the LCSO will work with any and all federal, state and local law enforcement to keep the residents of Lavaca County safe and secure.

09/02/2026

Please join us in welcoming our newest patrol deputy, Samantha Soloya!

Deputy Soloya is pictured here being sworn in by Sheriff Steven Greenwell. She joins us from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, where she served for several years.

Welcome to the team, Deputy Soloya! We’re excited to have you with us and know you will do great things for Lavaca County. We’re proud to have you on board!

08/21/2026

Yesterday, the Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), demonstrated the value of strong law enforcement partnerships and the resources they bring to our community.

Yesterday afternoon, members of the USMS (Southern District of Texas, Victoria Division) arrested Andrew Clinton King Jr. at a residence in the 300 block of Kroschel in Hallettsville. King was arrested on a felony warrant for Failure to Comply with S*x Offender Duties to Register. King had previously been indicted by a Lavaca County Grand Jury, resulting in the issuance of the warrant.

An LCSO deputy assigned as a Task Force Officer (TFO) to the USMS Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task Force participated in the arrest. The Hallettsville Police Department also assisted.

King’s apprehension was the second arrest yesterday involving a registered s*x offender from Lavaca County for failure to comply with s*x-offender registration requirements.

Earlier in the day, Travis Bingham was apprehended in Kingwood, Texas, by members of the USMS. Bingham has remained a wanted fugitive since failing to appear for a scheduled April 13, 2026, trial in Lavaca County on a charge of failing to comply with s*x offender duties to register. Members of the USMS and the Harris County Sheriff's Office SWAT team took Bingham into custody following a brief standoff. At least one other person was also arrested at the location.

These arrests demonstrate the importance of the partnerships the LCSO has developed with other agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. These partnerships, task forces, and other law-enforcement initiatives provide force multipliers that allow agencies to combine personnel, expertise, jurisdictional authority, and resources toward a common goal.

Our partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service is particularly valuable to Lavaca County. Having an LCSO deputy assigned to the Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task Force allows our agency to participate directly in multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional efforts while bringing enhanced resources back to our community and the residents we serve.

The law places specific and serious requirements on individuals convicted of s*xually based offenses. When an offender under our jurisdiction fails to comply with those requirements, the LCSO will utilize every appropriate resource to locate those individuals and hold them accountable under the law.

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

08/20/2026

Update on Lavaca County Fugitive -
Travis Bingham ARRESTED and IN CUSTODY

Thank you to all law enforcement, agencies, and/or persons involved with the successful and safe apprehension of Travis Bingham.

Update on Travis Bingham

Travis Bingham, a registered s*x offender, had a trial scheduled for April 13, 2026, on a charge of failing to register as a s*x offender. He did not appear for the trial.

Bingham remained at large until August 20, 2026. He was located at a residence in Kingwood, Texas, by the U.S. Marshals Service (Southern District of Texas). At least one other person was arrested with him at the location.

Members of the Gulf Coast U.S. Marshals Service and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team took Bingham into custody following a brief standoff.

08/20/2026

Expect to see an influx of people and officers around the area while, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz has a meet and greet at 1:30 at Cabo San Lucas Mexican Grill in town.

08/17/2026

** Found Property**

LCSO has located a silver case with camera equipment inside. If this is yours please call the Sheriff's office and discribe the contents inside to claim.

361-798-2121 opt. 1 for dispatch

08/14/2026

Update to Ongoing Investigation

On today's date a short while ago, arrest warrants were served on current LCSO inmates Thomas Presley Knight and Ryan Lee Knesek for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and Prohibited Substance in a Correctional Facility, second and third degree felony respectively.

These charges are pursuant to the ongoing criminal investigation related to contraband that was discovered inside the Lavaca County Sheriff's Office Jail and has led to the previous arrests of Brandon Dearson, Tyler Miller and Keith Woods. This continuing investigation is being conducted by the DPS Texas Rangers and LCSO Investigators, along with the assistance of the Lavaca County Attorney's Office. We will continue to update the public of developments as those details can be released.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

08/11/2026

Please be advised there will be an increased presence of law enforcement in and aroud the area of the KC Hall.

This is due to the search for an individual that fled the scene of a traffic stop approx 3:45 pm in Hallettsville. The subject is described as a hispanic male approx 5'3" wearing a red, white and blue shirt with blue jeans and a basball cap.

If seen please contact 361-798-2121 option 1 for dispatch.