Hunter Simmons, a Houston defense attorney, faces serious charges after being caught attempting to smuggle synthetic drug-laced papers to a jailed client. Authorities discovered the scheme during a separate human trafficking investigation.
After being found trying to smuggle drug-laced documents into a jail, 39-year-old Houston defense lawyer Hunter Simmons was arrested and charged with carrying a restricted substance and engaging in organized criminal conduct in a correctional facility. Simmons can be sentenced to two to twenty years in jail if found guilty.
Simmons was bound by authorities to blankets laced with synthetic marijuana that were meant for a prisoner. The plan was uncovered by the Harris County Sheriff's Office while looking into a separate human trafficking investigation.
Joshua Palmer, 22, and Tanisha Butler, 40, were also taken into custody and are charged with the same offenses. During their Wednesday court hearings, Butler, the program director for the Texas-based nonprofit organization Every Child Counts, and Simmons were each given a $75,000 bond. Palmer is scheduled to appear in PC Court later.
After 12 years of practicing law and running his firm, Simmons is now facing serious legal repercussions. According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the investigation is still ongoing, and more charges could be brought.
Sharon Pe Benito, appointed as the new principal of Harvard Elementary in Houston, stepped down before starting her role, citing extensive bullying on social media. The school will now operate under an interim principal for the rest of the academic year.
Marie Flickinger, beloved founder of the *South Belt-Ellington Leader*, passed away at the age of 82. Known as the unofficial "Mayor of South Belt," Flickinger’s commitment to her community and local journalism shaped the heart of southeast Houston for decades. Even in her passing, her dedication to serving the community remains evident as the paper she founded continues its work.
In a landmark event for the Texas food scene, Houston hosted the first-ever Michelin Guide Texas ceremony at 713 Music Hall, where 15 restaurants from across the state were awarded prestigious Michelin Stars. The event highlighted Texas’s diverse culinary excellence and put the state firmly on the global culinary map.