Published: September 16, 2009 10:29 pm      

Palestine man indicted in murder

PALESTINE — A 56-year-old Palestine man has been indicted by an Anderson County grand jury in the death of a 40-year-old local man who was shot and killed earlier this year.

Robert Lynn Pridgen, 56, of Palestine recently was indicted on the charge of murder by a local grand jury, according to information released by the Anderson County district clerk’s office.

Pridgen has been charged with murder in connection with the Jan. 27 shooting of 40-year-old Paul Rohne who was found shot to death in his residence after the suspect had reported the incident to authorities.

An autopsy performed at the Southeast Texas Forensic Science Center in Tyler showed that Rohne died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Authorities have said Rohne rented the residence on CR 459, north of Montalba, from Pridgen.

“Several weapons” were recovered from the residence following the fatal shooting, including the one believed to have been used in Rohne’s death, according to Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor.

Rohne was sitting on a couch in the residence’s living room when he was shot by Pridgen, authorities have also said.

Taylor has said Pridgen “muttered” a claim of self-defense shortly after his arrest.

Pridgen, a retired maintenance employee of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, has been free on a $100,000 bond since shortly after his arrest.

Rohne was the son of longtime Palestine businessman and civic leader Tony Rohne.

Other indictments handed down on Aug. 26 by the grand jury included:

Murder

Jaron Anthony Burton, 22, Crockett, date of alleged offense, July 18, 2009.

Indecency with a Child by Sexual Contact

Bruce Wayne Axum, 38, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Aug. 16, 2008.

Forgery of a Government Instrument

Jinnifur Starr, 21, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Nov. 25, 2008.

Latimer Peterson, 22, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Nov. 25, 2008.

Burglary of a Building

Mariano Javier Diaz, 35, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Feb. 8, 2009.

DWI - Third or More

Michael Cody Gentry, 44, Grapeland, date of alleged offense, Dec. 2, 2007.

Intoxication Manslaughter with a Vehicle

Michael Wayne Howerton, 36, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Aug. 8, 2008 (reindictment to enhance offense).

Tampering with Governmental Records

Virginia Ruiz, 29, Palestine, date of alleged offense, March 29, 2007.

Forgery of a Financial Instrument

Christopher Dale Glenn, 24, New Mexico, date of alleged offense, Sept. 20, 2008 (six counts).

Possession of a Controlled Substance Less Than 1 Gram

Lisa Ichelle McClure, 42, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Jan. 5, 2009.

Theft by Aggregation of Amounts $1,500-to-$20,000

Russell Vera, 47, Montgomery, date of alleged offense, Dec. 11, 2008.

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com