Two Olney men plead guilty in gun case

Two Olney men pleaded “true” and were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for stealing weapons from a home on Springcreek Road and attempting to sell them online in 2020, law enforcement officials said.

Jamarkus Antwon Steverson, 21, was sentenced to 22 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility, District Attorney Dee Peavy said in a statement.

Mr. Steverson also pleaded true to aggravated assault with a dealy weapon and was sentenced to 15 years in a TDCJ facility, Ms. Peavy’’s statement said.

Antonio Cagino Tellez, 21 was sentenced to 25 years in a TDCJ facility, Ms. Peavy said.

“Mr. Steverson and Mr.Tellez had the opportunity to improve their lives,” Ms. Peavy said. “Unfortunately, they chose to throw that opportunity away. Consequently, I had no choice but to send them to prison.”

The charges stem from the Jan. 16, 2022 burglary of a residence on W. Springcreek Road.

The homeowner reported that burglars broke into the home through a window and stole multiple firearms, Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck said.

The owner provided police with a detailed list of the missing guns with corresponding serial numbers,” Chief Birbeck said. “The following day, investigators received information that the stolen weapons had been advertised on Snapchat. Based on this information, the owner of the Snapchat account was identified as Antonio Tellez. We obtained a warrant and arrested Mr. Tellez for possession of stolen firearms.”

Police next arrested a second suspect, Eric Aranda, who confessed to being involved in the planning of the crime and revealed that he was the driver during the burglary and theft of the firearms, Chief Birbeck said.

Mr. Aranda later pled to five years and a deferred sentence, Ms. Peavy said.

While Olney Police continued to build the case, they became aware of a third suspect identified as Mr. Steverson, who was wanted on a felony warrant for a 2020 aggravated assault.

Olney Police obtained two search warrants for 1321A Third Street in Graham and 1015 W. Payne Street in Olney to link the suspects to the stolen property.

During the search in Graham, “it was confirmed that the pictures on Snapchat were taken at this location, which further connected Mr. Tellez to the crime,” Chief Birbeck said. “During the second warrant executed in Olney, several stolen firearms were hidden under a wooden walkway between the house and a closed-in garage.”

Mr. Steverson confessed under questioning to his role in planning the burglary and theft of firearms,” Chief Birbeck said.

Both Mr. Steverson and Mr. Tellez were on probation on the gun case. Mr. Steverson subsequently committed felonies in Dallas County and Mr. Tellez tested positive for prohibited substances, Ms. Peavy said.

“I hope what happened in the cases of Steverson and Tellez will be a warning to Mr. aranda and others,” Ms. Peavy said. “Felony Community Supervision is not a game - there are serious consequences for failing to comply with the conditions they are ordered to follow.”