The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 157, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 15, 2010 Page: 1 of 20
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BEARS STILL IN HUNT FOR PLAYOFFS • SPORTS, B1
W\t Bastrop aduertiser
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www.bastropadvertiser.com
Volume 157, Number 13
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper Since March 1, 1853
THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010
Semi-Weekly Since Sept. 5, 1977
50c
INSIDE
ROAD RALLY
Rotary Club's event brings fun and
funds together for a worthy cause.
—Page 12A
JUSTICE DELAYED
E-mail messages prompt judge
to recuse himself from Smithville
case.
—Page A4
FREE SEAT FOR SAT
TEA offering high school juniors
opportunity to take college prep
exams without a charge.
—Page B2
POLICE BLOTTER
■ On April 7 at 11:40 p.m., Officer
Christopher Chavez was dis-
patched to a residence on Vista West
for two juveniles who were reported
runaways from Smithville, Chavez
detained the first male. When the
other male would not identify himself,
Chavez detained him for failing to re-
veal his identity. The subject then gave
his information. The two were taken to
the pol ice department where they were
released to their parents with a citation
for being runaways.
■ On April 6 at 2:45 p.m., Officer
Kenneth Mack was working at Bas-
trop High School when a student told
him his car had been burglarized - an
IROD had been taken from his car
The investigation continues.
■ On April 10 at 10:14 p.m. Officer
Chavez was dispatched to Wal-Mart
for a theft, Upon arrival Chavez was
advised the subject ran into the woods
behind the store. Chavez went into the
woods and located the suspect. The
subject stated he needed help due to a
medical condition and was transport-
ed to the hospital. Bruce William
Weir, 49 of Smithville was charged
with theft under $50.
■ On April 10 at approximately 4:00
p.m. Officer Dale Hamilton was
dispatched to a local business in
reference to a theft. An investigation
determined a male suspect had stolen
a bottle of wine, It was also discovered
the male had an outstanding arrest
for public ntoxication. Gerald Lee
Millard, 56, of Bastrop, was arrested
for theft under $50 and transported to
the Bastrop County Jail,
WEATHER
THURSDAY FORECAST
HI: 74
LO: 60
CLOUDY
INDEX
Classifieds
Community
Paae B3
Page A3
Sports
Page A2
Page B1
22 pages, two sections
Newsroom
(512) 321-2557
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CRIME
Child porn filmed in county
Man accused of creating widely-distributed 'tent series
BY ANDY ROSS
Staff Writer
A child pornography series
that according to authorities
has turned up in over 100 cyber
crime investigations around
the U.S. in recent years, is now
believed to have been filmed by
a man while he was at the Star
Ranch nudist camp in Bastrop
County, according to an affida-
vit of criminal complaint filed
by the Federal Bureau of Inves-
tigation.
Last week 48-year-old David
Diehl was arrested in Orange
Park, Fla. for allegedly filming
what has come to be known as
the "tent series" child pornog-
raphy videos.
The video recordings, which
depict the sexual assault of a
prepubescent girl, were alleg-
edly filmed around 2000 during
the Southwestern Sunbathing
Association Conference held at
the Star Ranch in McDade, ac-
cording to the federal complaint
affidavit and statements from
Special Agent Erik Vasys, me-
dia coordinator with the FBI's
San Antonio office.
When contacted on Tuesday
about the "tent series" inves-
tigation an officer of the Star
Ranch who asked to remain
anonymous said, "We have as-
sisted in an FBI cyber crimes
nvestigation and we do not
know any results. In the inter-
est of justice, we do not want to
say anything that might com-
promise the prosecution of the
case. We applaud the authori-
ties for the diligence in the in-
vestigation."
The child pornography series
has been on the radar screen of
law enforcement since at least
2005 when the National Center
See PORN, page A5
ARTS
"A'~:
Staff photo by Terry Hagerty
Karol Rice unveils plans for a proposed new location for the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild during the guild's annual Gala
Garden Party,
he art of fundraising
Bastrop artisans guild on way to buying Chestnut Street building
BY TERRY HAGERTY
Assistant Editor
The Bastrop Fine Arts
Guild is well on its way to
raising the approximately
$400,000 needed to purchase
and renovate a Chestnut
Street building for a new arts
center.
The group appears to have
raised more than $100,000 af-
ter unofficial totals from last
weekend's huge fundraiser,
the fourth annual Gala Gar-
den Party and Fine Art Auc-
tion, combined with current
funds already amassed, said
Karol Rice, chair of the fund-
raising committee.
'We're very happy about
this turnout and support,
especially in this economy,
because you can't put art in a
gas tank or eat it," Rice said
of the gala afternoon held last
Sunday. "Discretionary funds
are slim for people these
days. The level of contribu-
tions shows an extraordinary
commitment to the arts field
n Bastrop."
The event had a large
turnout of supporters.
'We had close to 200
people attend the event, so It
was a very good turnout be-
cause we generally get about
170-200 people," Rice said of
the event held at the Pecan
Street home of Jay and Max-
See ART, page A5
STUDENT LIFE
Draining the piggybank for school prom
Staff photos by Terry Hagerty
Simon Muhlethaler, an exchange
student from Aeschi, Switzerland
who is attending Bastrop High
School, is ready for Saturday's prom
at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort.
BY TERRY HAGERTY
Assistant Editor
Some seniors going to
the Bastrop High School
prom have already spent
$300 or more to look good
for what they consider one
of the highlights of their
senior year.
Add a few more dollars
for the guys who are treat-
ing their dates to dinner
and the $50 entry ticket for
the prom.
"Prom is one of those
special moments, almost
like a wedding," said BHS
senior Erin Miller. "I didn't
go to prom last year, so this
year I wanted to make sure
that I go."
Miller was one of a
group of BHS students who
shared their excitement -
and practicality on watch-
ing expenses - in advance
of this Saturday's prom at
the Lost Pines Hyatt Re-
gency Resort.
Seniors interviewed
were virtually unanimous
in encouraging reluctant
classmates to attend the
prom, and they emphasized
that not having a date mat-
tered not a bit.
"I understand there
might be some people who
may not have a date, or
they just have a reason
they don't want to go to
prom, but I think it's re-
ally a special occasion they
are missing out on," Miller
said. "Some people have
the misconception that you
have to have a date to go to
prom, but that isn't so."
Several girls said they
were attending prom with
either a female friend or
a large group of friends,
none of whom had lined up
a specific date.
Most seniors agreed
they are reaching deep
into their pockets - or their
parents' pockets - when it
comes to footing the bill for
prom.
"I rented a tuxedo for
$120, with shoes, vest and
a shirt," Miller said. He
also bought his date's prom
ticket and will dine with
her in Austin before driv-
ing back to the Hyatt.
Senior Heidi Grossman
See PROM, page A6
DISTRICT COURT
No traction
for defense's
recusal motion
BY ANDY ROSS
Staff Writer
After the denial on Monday of a motion
requesting 423rd District Judge Chris Dug-
gan be recused from hearing the trial of a
local man charged with two counts of intoxi-
cation manslaughter, opening arguments
began Tuesday morning in Bastrop County
District Court.
The defendant, 31-year old Sandy Send-
gikoski, is charged with causing a Feb. 10,
2009 crash that killed 40-year-old Martin
Ortiz and former Travis County Sheriffs Of-
fice Chief Deputy Daniel Richards.
Following Sendgikoski pleading not guilty
on both counts Tuesday, Bastrop County As-
sistant District Attorney Greg Gilleland
opened up the prosecution's case before Dug-
gan and a jury of seven women and five men.
Gilleland told jurors they will hear tes-
timony from law enforcement and crash
scene witnesses that will reveal Sendgiko-
ski's blood alcohol level tested at .28 after
the Dodge Neon he was driving collided with
Oritz's pickup at the intersection of Texas 21
and FM 812. The assistant DA said testimo-
See COURT, page A6
House destroyed
Wm
V • ' * Cl:
Staff photos by Terry Hagerty
Members of the Five Points and Bluebonnet Acres volunteer
fire departments extinguish a blaze at a mobile home Tues-
day morning at 337 Cedar Lane in the Bluebonnet Acres
neighborhood, Neighbors said one man escaped the home,
No injuries were reported, but the home and contents were
totally destroyed, fire officials said.
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Wright, Cyndi. The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 157, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 15, 2010, newspaper, April 15, 2010; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth252674/m1/1/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bastrop Public Library.