Billy Jack Orsburn was sentenced to 60 years in custody on a delivery of a controlled substance charge.
A sentencing trial was held Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, in the 8th Judicial District Court. Orsburn pled open on one delivery of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone. As part of a 12.45 agreement, two other cases he was indicted for were dismissed.
This refers to Section 12.45 of Texas Penal Code which allows a defendant to admit during the sentencing hearing guilt of one or more unadjudicated offenses and request the court to take each into account in determining sentence for the offense or offenses of which he stands adjudged guilty.
“This particular defendant has an extensive criminal history dating back about 30 years including convictions for sexual assault, delivery of meth, forgery, and failure to register as a sex offender,” according to Assistant District Attorney Matt Harris.
Hopkins County jail records show Orsburn, 64, has 39 Hopkins County jail entries. He was first arrested in Hopkins County in the summer of 1990 on two forgery charges and two delivery of simulated controlled substance charges.
Orsburn was arrested on six more forgery charges the next year, as well as attempted indecency with a child. He was arrested in 1992 for violation of probation, violation of probation and use of explosives. In 1994, he was jailed on a forgery of financial instrument charge, investigation of sexual assault, violation of parole and terroristic threat.
In 2003, Hopkins County jail records show, Orsburn was assessed a 7-year sentence for sex offender failure in duty to register.
In 2014, he was arrested on burglary of a building and manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone charges, and sentenced to 30 days in a state jail for a theft charge and 4 years in prison for surety off bond on the manufacture or delivery charge.
On Aug. 14, 2019, Orsburn was arrested by Sulphur Springs police for public intoxication. On Dec. 10, 2019, he was arrested for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone. He remained in jail on the charge until March 17, 2020; during that time he was indicted on two manufacture or delivery of a 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone charges.
Orsburn has remained in Hopkins County jail since his arrest March 25, 2020, after his attempt to hide from police under trash was unsuccessful. He was jailed at that time for not paying a public intoxication fine and his bond was revoked on one possession and two manufacture or delivery of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge.
