Follow-up: Former Cuero police officer confesses to running over wife, sentenced to 8 years

Former police officer confesses to running over wife

August 13, 2015

CUERO - As the shrill sound of a metal detector echoed in a historic Cuero courtroom and shackled men shifted in their seats, a former police officer confessed to running over his wife.

Corey Tolbert stepped up to the bench Thursday before Judge Skipper Koetter and pleaded no contest to reckless assault causing serious bodily injury.

Tolbert handed Koetter a judicial confession admitting to running over his wife but not doing so intentionally.

Judge Joseph P. (Pat) Kelly will decide his punishment after hearing evidence about his crime and his character next week.

Read more: https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2015/aug/13/former-police-officer-confesses-to-running-over-wi/

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Ex-wives testify against former officer

August 18, 2015

CUERO - William "Butch" Tolbert has been the volunteer fire chief for four decades.

But Tuesday, he said he has never - in his vast experience of firefighting and extracting motorists from wrecked vehicles - medically assessed anyone.

With only a basic first-aid course under his belt and a flashlight, Tolbert said he found his daughter-in-law lying on the ground in rural DeWitt County sometime after 8:41 p.m. April 17, 2014. He said he didn't initially think she was injured even though his son, former Cuero police officer Corey Tolbert, admitted he had hit her.

"I tried to rouse her because I didn't know what was wrong with her," Tolbert told Senior District Judge Joseph P. Kelly. "I saw no marks on her."

Read more: https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2015/aug/18/trial-starts-for-former-officer-accused-of-assault/

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Assault victim testifies in husband's trial

August 21, 2015

CUERO - Former Cuero police officer Corey Tolbert walked into court Thursday morning holding his wife's hand and walked out Thursday afternoon in handcuffs.

After deliberating about one hour, Senior District Judge Joseph Patrick Kelly sentenced Tolbert to eight years in prison for running over his wife, Elizabeth Tolbert, after a drunken argument the night of April 17, 2014.

"I hope this will soon be put behind you," Kelly said, adjusting a large stack of notes he took throughout the three-day trial. "Good luck."

Elizabeth Tolbert's sisters, whom she has severed ties with, rushed afterward to shake District Attorney Michael Sheppard's hand. Some cried happy tears.

Read more: https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2015/aug/20/assault-victim-testifies-in-husbands-trial/

[font color=330099]I was thinking about the story and found that the case had come to a close. This is the case where he ran over his wife and left her out in the field at their ranch with a broken hip and other injuries. Meanwhile, his father who is head of the volunteer fire department came over to make coffee and sober the son up.[/font]

Earlier thread and newspaper article:
Cuero police officer indicted on assaulting wife; defense attorney raises concerns about bias May 14, 2014
Cuero police officer indicted for assaulting wife resigns May 15, 2014