TWO TRIAL AND TWO CONVICTIONS
Livingston, September 26, 2024...
This past week two jury panels comprised of Polk County residents convicted two men. Kevin Ray Kimbro was convicted for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Shane Melvin Meilike was convicted for Burglary of a Habitation.
On Monday, September 23, 2024, First Assistant Polk County District Attorney Tami Pierce, selected a jury for each case.
The State of Texas v. Kevin Ray Kimbro:
Testimony for the trial against Kevin Kimbro began on Monday afternoon with ADA Tami Pierce presenting testimony through witnesses who testified that Kimbro had taken a bobcat skid steer loader from the owner’s property while he was away and without the owner’s permission. The trial ended on Tuesday with the jury finding Kimbro guilty of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, a State Jail Felony.
The State of Texas v. Shane Melvin Meilike:
The trial against Shane Meilike began on Wednesday September 25, 2024. Polk County District Attorney Prosecutor, Mackenzie Smith, presented testimony through several witnesses who testified that around May 11, 2023, Meilike and other individuals broke into their neighbor’s home and stole several personal items located within the home, along with an AC unit, electricity, hot water heater, and other pieces of furniture. While the other co-defendant’s cases are still pending, the trial for Meilike ended on Wednesday with the jury finding him guilty of Burglary of a Habitation, a Second Degree Felony. Mr. Meilike had been previously convicted of Burglary of a Habitation in June 2015 in Harris County.
Punishment for both Kevin Kimbro and Shane Meilike will be assessed by the 411th Judicial District Judge on November 13, 2024. When an individual goes to trial, they have the right to elect whether the jury or Judge will assess their punishment. Both Mr. Kimbro and Mr. Meilike chose to have the Judge assess their punishment.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Livingston Police Department assisted in providing the evidence and support necessary for each case in order to bring justice to the victims and safety of the people of Polk County.
Shelly Sitton, your elected District Attorney, would like to thank all the citizens of Polk County who answered their summons for jury duty on September 23, 2024. Particularly, she would like to thank the members of both jury panels for their diligence in listening to the evidence, following the law and rendering a verdict. Justice was served twice this week.
