DA to seek death penalty

By John Lowman
The Facts
Published April 1, 2009

ANGLETON — Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against the man accused of the Feb. 2 kidnapping, robbery and slaying of a Pearland store clerk.

A two-count capital murder indictment handed up by a Brazoria County grand jury Tuesday accuses Nicholas-Michael Jean, 21, of Pearland of killing Susana DeJesus by shooting her while in the course of a robbery. The second count accuses Jean of killing DeJesus during a kidnapping.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt, but a determination enough evidence exists to proceed to trial.

Brazoria County District Attorney Jeri Yenne would only quote from the indictment and declined to expound on the case.

“The allegations are he did intentionally cause the death of Susana DeJesus by shooting her with a firearm,” she said. “He did so in the course of committing robbery or in the course of committing kidnapping. We filed capital murder here (in Brazoria County). This is the highest crime in the state, and we will be seeking the death penalty.”

The last capital murder conviction in Brazoria County was in April 2007 when John Joe Bodley was convicted of the Freeport shooting deaths of two people. Yenne agreed to a life sentence after Bodley waived his right to appeal.

The last Brazoria County person put to death after a capital murder conviction was Virgil Martinez, who was convicted in 1998 of killing four people in a trailer home outside Alvin. He was given a lethal injection Jan. 28 in Huntsville.

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Pearland Library Reopens!

Back in business
By DIANA NORTH CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
March 24, 2009, 9:35AM

NEW HOURS
The Pearland Library at 3522 Liberty Drive reopened to the public last week with new hours:
• Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Thursday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday: closed
• Phone: 281-652-1677
• Online: http://bcls.lib.tx.us

Six months after Hurricane Ike caused structural damage to the Pearland Library, the double front doors have reopened to welcome patrons checking out books and using computers.
The branch’s first day back in business was March 16.
“People love the library,” librarian DeDe Williams said. “They just missed it.”
High winds from the storm left several holes in the building’s roof, which led to water damage inside.
Repairs included replacement of the entire ceiling, electrical system, new ducts and about half of the drywall on the interior walls.

Melissa Norris took her three daughters to the library at 3522 Liberty Drive the second day it reopened. It was her first visit to the branch because the family just purchased a home in Pearland. They are currently living in Friendswood and awaiting closing on their new home.
“We’re trying to familiarize ourselves with the area,” Williams said. “This library seems very well-stocked and it’s close to where we will live.”
Norris’ oldest daughter is 16 and went in search of books on her own.

“She’s disappeared and I haven’t seen her — that bodes well for this place,” Norris said.
Pearland resident Gerry Keenan knows all about hurricane damage and recovery. He moved to the area after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, where he lived for 53 years.

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