Converse

Veteran Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Cousin’s Death Amid PTSD Defense in Converse County Trial

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DOUGLAS, Wyo. — A jury in Converse County delivered a second-degree murder conviction to a Douglas man, Mark Helms, aged 44, for the fatal shooting of his cousin last year. This verdict arrived after intense deliberations following a weeklong trial centered around the mental competency of Helms at the time of the crime. Helms, a military veteran with a substantial history of service and multiple deployments, was accused of killing Nicholas Velazquez, 38, on the night of September 13, 2023. Reports indicate that the cousins had been drinking together in Helms’ residence at the time … Read more

Converse Man Sentenced to 53 Years in Prison for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child: Jury Delivers Powerful Verdict

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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – A Bexar County jury has delivered a 53-year prison sentence to Simon Michael Bullock of Converse after finding him guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child. The trial lasted four days, during which witnesses, including the victim, testified that Bullock repeatedly abused the child from late 2021 to June 2022. According to court records, Bullock was arrested on June 22, 2022, and had been out on a $75,000 bond until the verdict was reached. The abuse came to light when the victim’s family alerted authorities, leading to the collection of … Read more