Dogtown Ranch Owner Arrested; Charged with Animal Cruelty

Press release 10/06/2026: AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that the Fugitive Apprehension Unit (“FAU”) has made 18,291 arrests since the division’s inception. Additionally, his office has secured hundreds of convictions and arrests of child predators. This reflects Attorney General Paxton’s commitment to bringing the full force of the law against criminals and his tireless work to protect the people of Texas. “Throughout my time as Attorney General, I have fought to find and arrest dangerous fugitives that threaten our communities. This has included putting thousands of fugitives behind bars,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Additionally, we have secured hundreds of convictions and arrests within my units that are dedicated to combatting child exploitation and human trafficking. I have done everything in my power and will continue to fight relentlessly to protect the children of this state and put dangerous criminals behind bars.” Since the division’s inception, investigators with the Office of the Attorney General’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit have made over 18,000 arrests. This includes 68 individuals on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Top 10 Most Wanted List. Additionally, the FAU has recovered 186 missing and endangered children throughout the state. Attorney General Paxton’s Child Exploitation Unit has made 278 arrests for Online Solicitation of a Minor, resulting in 214 convictions, with many cases still pending. The unit has also made 610 arrests for Possession of Child Pornography, resulting in 1,410 convictions, with many cases still pending. Attorney General Paxton’s Human Trafficking Unit has made 373 human trafficking arrests and secured 126 convictions, with several cases still pending. Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.

Texas A&M is mourning the loss of former head football coach Dennis “Coach Fran” Franchione, who passed away today at 75. Franchione, a native of Girard, Kansas, began his coaching career as an assistant at Kansas State in 1978. He served as Texas A&M’s head football coach from 2003-07. He compiled a 32-28 record during his time in College Station. He guided the Aggies to three bowl games, highlighted by the 2004 Cotton Bowl. He also served as head coach for Alabama and TCU, and led the Horned Frogs to 3 straight bowl games and a 10-1 season in 2000 with LaDainian Tomlinson. In his second time at the helm in San Marcos, he helped bring Texas State into the FBS. Franchione’s record was 213-135-2, including 9 conference championships. He was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. Franchione was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and again in 2021, but had been in remission. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the cancer returned earlier this year and had recently been in hospice care. His coaching career: Southwestern College 1981–1982  Early collegiate head coaching stop Pittsburg State University 1985–1989  53–6 record, five conference titles, two-time NAIA Coach of the Year Texas State (Southwest Texas State)    1990–1991  Compiled a 13–9 record New Mexico 1992–1997  Revamped the Lobos program, coaching star linebacker Brian Urlacher TCU 1998–2000  Turned around a 1–11 team with LaDainian Tomlinson Alabama 2001–2002  Went 17–8, winning the SEC West in 2002 despite bowl bans Texas A&M 2003–2007  Compiled a 32–28 record with three bowl appearances Texas State 2011–2015 Returned to guide the Bobcats through their transition to the FBS; retired in 2015 Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.

Three people have been arrested in connection with a drug operation in Bryan. Bryan Police were surveilling an apartment in the 3100 block of East 29th Street, where they believed drugs were being sold. The apartment belonged to 36-year-old Vicenta Mariana Castillo and her, son 17-year-old Jaykub Vincent Melendez, both of whom have recent drug related arrests. A search warrant uncovered 26.46 ounces of marijuana, 29.78 grams of methamphetamine, and THC weighing in at 12.20 grams. Castillo was charged with Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Penalty Group 1, 4-200 grams), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Penalty Group 2, less than one gram), and Possession of Marijuana (between 4 ounces and 5 pounds). She also had an outstanding warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance and remains jailed on $90,000 bond. Melendez was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Penalty Group 2, 4-400 grams) and Possession of Marijuana (between 4 ounces and 5 pounds). He is being held on $65,000 bond. 39-year-old Carlos James Sanchez, of Bryan, was pulled over for a traffic stop after leaving the apartment. He was found with 1.86 grams of methamphetamine and was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Penalty Group 1/1-B, 1-4 grams) and Driving with an Invalid License. Sanchez also had outstanding warrants for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Penalty Group 1/1-B, 1-4 grams) and Driving with an Invalid License. He is being held on $28,000 bond. Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.