COURT REPORTS

Alleged drug deals and assaults have several Wharton County residents facing felony trials following March grand jury deliberations.

Grand juries serve as a citizen review deciding whether a prosecutor has enough evidence to proceed with felony charges against an individual.

If the grand jury agrees that enough evidence exists, it issues an indictment.

The indictment is not an indication of guilt.

Those facing trial include:

• Bill Baker, 33, of 706 1/2 E. Jackson in El Campo for assault of a public servant. He allegedly kicked an El Campo officer while being transported as a prisoner on Oct. 3, 2007.

Baker has prior felony convictions for burglary, burglary of a motor vehicle and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

• Gerry Barrett Jr., 25, of Rt. 1, Box 263 in Wharton for possession of a controlled substance. He allegedly had less than less than one gram of cocaine on Oct. 9, 2007.

• Vincent Niakia Batiste, 32, of 9581 Fairland in Houston for possession of a controlled substance and the intent to deliver. He allegedly had more than 400 grams of cocaine on June 2, 2007 with the intent to sell.

• Derrick Bowsier, 22, of 412 S. Shepherd in Wharton for possession of a controlled substance and the intent to deliver. He allegedly had four to 200 grams of cocaine on Jan. 9 with the intent to sell.

• George Anthony Bustoz, 45, of 10803 Alex in Needville for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He allegedly stole a vehicle on Dec. 11, 2007.

Bustoz has a prior felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance.

• Daniel Caldelas-Alfonso, 22, of CR 360 Trailer 3 in El Campo for two counts of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger and two counts of endangering a child. He allegedly drove drunk on Dec. 2, 2007 with two children under the age of 15 in the vehicle placing them in danger.

• Jose Calan Canche, 24, off 1009 Catalena #2 in Matagorda for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He allegedly stole a vehicle on Dec. 8, 2007 using that vehicle as a deadly weapon while doing so.

• Jose Concepcion Cortez Jr., 17, of 714 Merchant in El Campo for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and theft of a firearm. He allegedly stole a vehicle and a firearm on Feb. 2.

• Tobias Gutierrez Cruces, 42, of 608 Alamo in El Campo for driving while intoxicated third or more

He allegedly drove drunk on Dec. 21, 2007.

Cruces has two prior misdemeanor convictions for DWI.

• Daniel Lee Deleon, 21, of 904 Palacios in El Campo for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He allegedly used a knife to attack a man on Sept. 23, 2007.

• Ricardo Delgado, 43, of 2213 Jean in Houston for evading with a motor vehicle. He allegedly used a vehicle to flee from a Department of Public Safety Trooper on Nov. 11, 2007, using it as a deadly weapon.

Delgado has a prior felony conviction for driving while intoxicated.

• Diego Ernesto Delgado, 18, of 605 Bruns in El Campo for possession of a controlled substance. He allegedly had less than one gram of cocaine on Feb. 9.

• Chrystal Nichole Ephran, 31, of 807 E. Elm in Wharton for forgery and burglary of a habitation. She allegedly forged a $200 check on Sept. 10, 2007. Ephran also stands accused of breaking into a home that same day with the intention of stealing a credit card and check.

• Jeremy Lee Estrada, 21, of 615 W. Caney in Wharton for engaging in organized criminal activity. He allegedly conspired with three others to burglarize a building on Nov. 21, 2007.

• Guadalupe Garcia Jr., 41, of 101 Becky in El Campo for burglary of a habitation. He allegedly broke into a home on Oct. 26, 2007.

• George Garza Jr., 29, of 318 Croom in Wharton for criminal attempt to commit burglary of a habitation. He allegedly tried to break into a home on Oct. 14, 2007.