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Former Missouri City officer convicted in crash that killed three

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George convicted of money laundering Sentencing set for June 16

By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

After just about two-and-a-half hours, a Fort Bend County jury convicted former Missouri City police officer Bladimir Viveros of three counts of aggravated assault by a public servant in the June 20, 2024 crash that killed a Stafford woman and her teenage son and, later, a man who had been unrestrained in the back seat of Viveros’s vehicle and wasn’t found for hours afterward. According to evidence presented in trial, Viveros, then 27, was going as fast as 107 mph along Cartwright Road near Texas Parkway, a major Missouri City thoroughfare, after dark while responding to an aggravated robbery call. He slammed into the Toyota Corolla driven by Mason Stewart, who was driving his mother Angela, 53, out of the parking lot of a strip center, killing both of them instantly. They had been celebrating Mason’s 16th birthday. Hours after police and emergency vehicles responded to the crash, investigators discovered Michael Hawkins, 53, in the back seat of Viveros’s crashed and burning vehicle, calling for help. Hawkins was the resident of a nearby group home where he had been involved in an argument or fight that Viveros had responded to. Hawkins was transported to Ben Taub Hospital in the Texas Medical Center with grave injuries, and later died after having never left the hospital. Viveros was immediately placed on administrative leave after the accident and was subsequently fired by the department. The punishment phase of the trial is set to begin Tuesday and might last until Thursday at the earlies, according to Fort Bend County Second Assistant District Attorney Wesley Wittig, who serves as the department’s spokesperson. Viveros, 29, faces five to 99 years

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 51 • No. 12 • $1.00

After more than five hours of deliberations over two days, jurors in Fort Bend County Judge KP George’s money-laundering trial came back into the 458th District Court and rendered guilty verdicts in both counts in the thirddegree felony charge. The county’s top elected official was convicted of tampering with campaign finance reports during his 2018 campaign while moving money between his campaign and

personal bank accounts during his 2018 campaign. After a presenting investigation is completed, George, 61, will return to the courthouse on June 16 for sentencing. Before trial began, he elected to have District Judge Maggie Perez-Jamarillo, rather than jury, render punishment. He faces two to 10 years in state prison and up to a $10,000 fine. He is also eligible for probation. After extensive consultation with attorneys, Perez-Jaramillo imposed two $10,000 bonds on

George, which took the place of the ones he had previously posted, and told George he would be handcuffed by bailiffs to be taken to the Fort Bend County Jail. Shortly afterward, George was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom. He was expected to post bond before the end of the day. Since he has been convicted of a felony, George under Texas law is subject to removal from his office. But that won’t happen

SEE GEORGE PAGE 2

Fort Bend County Judge KP George, center, stands while listening to the verdict alongside defense attorneys Terry Yates, left, and Jared Woodfill and a paralegal. Photo by Ken Fountain

GO FLY A KITE!

laire Wilson, 5, of Richmond, works to get her kite aloft at the International Art & Kite Festival at Sugar Land’s Crown Festival Park on Saturday. Hundreds of people turned out for the event, which featured live art demonstrations, soccer activities, including fun giveaways from the Official FIFA World Cup 26™ Houston Host City tent, as well as cultural booths representing countries from around the world and a diverse lineup of food trucks and vendors. See more photos of the event on Page 5.

Photo by Ken Fountain

SEE CRASH PAGE 4

Machinist refines skills at TSTC for technical mastery Community Reports When Deven Kalinec transitioned into the tooling department at HDH Instruments in Pattison, he realized that a technical education was the bridge he needed between his experience as a high-level deep hole drilling machine operator and his long-term career goals. Kalinec began searching online after he attempted to interpret complex blueprints on-the-job. “I discovered the Precision Machining program at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus,” he said. “I wanted to pursue the associate degree to help me advance within the company and help expand our machining capabilities.” Among the most impactful lessons Kalinec gained at TSTC was a deep dive into the technical specifications of

carbide inserts. “I was able to comprehend the alphanumeric codes on the insert packaging to choose the right tool for specific lathe applications,” he said. “The instructors do a great job of offering suggestions on how we can improve our work.” Now in his final semester, the Brookshire native is preparing for the next phase of his career. “The program quickly helps you realize if the machinist trade is your calling or not,” he said. “I have been listening to podcasts from machinist shop owners and other resources.” Kalinec’s mechanical abilities first began in his father’s automotive shop. “I noticed the precision that’s required in machining felt like an extension of the machines that create the parts that make a car run,” he said. Greg Hovas, owner of HDH Instru-

ments, noted that Kalinec is a standout employee. “Deven has learned many new concepts and skills at TSTC that will help him perform well in his job and our organization,” Hovas said. Deogratias Nizigiyimana is one of Kalinec’s instructors. “Deven’s willingness to learn has made him a strong performer in our program,” he said. “His growth reflects his commitment to the trade.” TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and a certificate of completion in Precision Machining, as well as a certificate of completion in CNC Machine Operator, at its Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County campuses. For more information, visit tstc.edu.

Deven Kalinec is a precision machining student at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus in Rosenberg. Courtesy Texas State Technical College

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