Man caught stealing TVs from local hotels gets 5 years’ probation
TEXARKANA, Texas — A man caught stealing televisions from local hotel rooms by Texarkana, Texas, police in October was sentenced Monday to five years probation as part of a plea agreement. James Jerrell Robinson, 25, pleaded guilty last month to theft, three counts of burglary and three counts of bribery with the help of Assistant Public Defender Clayton Haas before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell. Robinson returned to court Monday for sentencing.
Tidwell noted that Robinson has no prior felony convictions. Robinson received concurrent fiveyear terms of deferred adjudication probation, meaning he will not have final convictions on his record if he successfully completes probation. In addition to supervision by the Bowie County
Community Supervision and Corrections Department, Tidwell ordered Robinson to undergo treatment at an intermediate sanctions facility and halfway house, complete a variety of classes meant to encourage law-abiding conduct and perform community service.
Police had received a number of calls about a man stealing televisions from hotels prior to Oct. 22, according to a probable cause affidavit and earlier police press statements. Police were nearby when a call from Fairfield Inn & Suites on Mall Drive in Texarkana, Texas, was received Oct. 22.
A couple of days earlier, an officer was able to get a description of the suspect’s car following a stolen-television report from Holiday Inn Express on Cowhorn Creek. The description was used to stop a car Oct. 22 near Fairfield Inn when the call was received. Two televisions were observed sitting in the backseat of the car and three more were found in the trunk after the vehicle was impounded.
Robinson allegedly offered three Texarkana, Texas, police officers $300 to let him go during separate interactions Oct. 22. All of the attempts at bribing officers were recorded by their body cameras. According to an earlier statement from Texarkana, Texas, police spokesman Shawn Vaughn, Robinson is believed to also have stolen televisions from hotels in other jurisdictions including Tarrant County and Titus County. The status of those cases is has not been determined.