Two indicted in death of TDCJ officer

By Jay Ermis
Managing Editor

Sat, May 17 2008

— Two inmates who escaped from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Wynne Unit and then killed a correctional officer in September 2007 could now face the death penalty.
Jerry Duane Martin and John Ray Falk Jr. were indicted Tuesday and charged with the capital murder of officer Susan Canfield on Sept. 24 at the unit on Farm-to-Market Road 2821.
The two men were among 19 people indicted during the Walker County Grand Jury’s March meeting.
Martin and Falk were also indicted on six other charges stemming from their escape that included a three-hour manhunt in and around Huntsville.
David Weeks, Walker County criminal district attorney, said Texas law provides that a murder becomes a capital offense if it occurs while escaping or attempting to escape from a penal institution.
Weeks said Thursday that he intends to prosecute Martin and Falk simultaneously and provide a jury with the option of imposing the death penalty for each defendant in the murder of Canfield.
The cases will be assigned to either the 12th or 278th Judicial District Courts.
A trial date has not been set. Weeks said he does not expect a trial to take place until the fall at the earliest.
“All of the indictments results from an accumulation of evidence gathered from a long and de-tailed investigation led by the Texas Rangers, who were assisted by the Hunts-ville Police Department and the Texas De-partment of Criminal Justice’s Office of the Inspector General,” Weeks said.
“In addition, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s crime laboratories and accident reconstruction team have provided special expertise to assist the investigation,” Weeks said.
The other offenses included two counts of attempted capital murder (first degree felonies) for shooting at police officers who were in pursuit of the offenders during the escape.
Martin and Falk also hijacked a truck and its occupant — Madilene Loosier — during the pursuit, leading to charges of aggravated kidnapping (a first degree felony), aggravated robbery (a first degree felony) and aggravated assault (a second degree felony).
Weeks said the final charge of Interference with Police Service Animal (a third degree felony) relates to the death of the TDCJ horse ridden by Canfield.
Also indicted Tuesday were:
• Genaro Flores, Huntsville, aggravated assault with deadly weapon.
• Tyrone Cunningham, Huntsville, aggravated robbery.
• Travissance Smith, Madisonville, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, burglary of a habitation.
• Travissance Smith, burglary of a habitation.
• Christopher Johnson, Huntsville, theft of property, $1,500, two more previously.
• Christopher Johnson, theft of property, $1,500, two more previously; theft of property $1,500, two more previously.
• Mikerel Bookman, Huntsville, unlawful possession of firearm by felon.
• Jerrondrick Booker, Huntsville, deadly conduct.
• Christopher McGowen, New Waverly, injury to a child.
• Matthew Shoemaker, Riverside, robbery.
• Cheryl Wooley, Houston, injury to a child, three charges of abandonment/endangering a child; and possession C/S PG1.
• Atina Minor, Huntsville, two charges of abandonment/endangering child.
• Atina Minor, theft of service.
• Shannon Straps, Huntsville, unauthorized use of motor vehicle.
• Carmine Salvitelli, Trinity, intoxicated assault.
• Melvin Gamble, Huntsville, assault of public servant.
• Brian Winfree, Huntsville, aggravated assault.