HENDERSON COUNTY, TX – A former Eustace Police Officer, Cody Mitchell Burris, was sentenced to the maximum 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and a $10,000 fine on Thursday for Possession with Intent to Promote Child Pornography. The sentence was handed down by 392nd District Court Judge R. Scott McKee.
Burris, who opted to plead guilty and have the court determine his punishment, was given the maximum possible sentence for the second-degree felony. During the punishment hearing, the court heard testimony from Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Task Force Investigator Timothy Tanner.
In her closing argument, District Attorney Jenny Palmer advocated for the severe penalty. “The defendant took an oath to protect and serve our community. It’s time now that we protect our community from him and sentence him to the full 20 years,” Palmer said.
As part of his sentence, Burris will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Palmer extended her gratitude to the law enforcement team involved in the case. "I want to thank Sheriff Hillhouse, Investigator Tanner, and the Task force for the hard work that they do," she said. "I know how difficult and taxing it is to investigate and prosecute these crimes."
