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On Feb. 27, 2026, a Limestone County jury convicted James Lawson of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child, Indecency with a Child by Contact, and Indecency with a Child by Exposure. Lawson, a 62year-old pastor from Kosse, Texas, elected to have the Honorable Judge Amy Ward assess his punishment. On March 4, 2026, Judge Ward sentenced Lawson to life in prison for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child. She also sentenced him to 20 years in prison on the two charges of Indecency by Contact and 10 years in prison for the Indecency by Exposure charge, which are the maximum sentences allowed by law for those offenses. All of these sentences are to be served concurrently. There is no parole for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child so the Defendant will have to serve his sentence day for day the rest of his life.

The local crime prevention organization brought home multiple Governor’s awards from the 30th annual Texas Crime Stoppers Campus Conference in Amarillo, recognizing excellence in media outreach and public information efforts.

The Groesbeck High School Band earned top honors at the University Interscholastic League Concert and Sight-Reading Contest on Thursday, March 5, receiving a rating of “all ones” from judges and securing the prestigious Sweepstakes Award.