WOODVILLE – Last week a Tyler County jury opted to convict a Hillister man of an unlawful firearm possession charge and send him to prison for 80 years.
Zachary Lynn Moye, 41, was referred to by Tyler County District Attorney Lucas Babin as a “serial felon.” Moye had been to prison four separate times, as the jury heard after a guilty verdict had been reached.
In evidence presented by Tyler County’s first assistant DA Brooke Koi last Tuesday, Moye was found to be walking in the middle of US Highway 69 with a semi-automatic pistol in his hand. This incident occurred on the morning of May 3, 2024, and several witnesses called 911 to report Moye.
Several officers responded, prompting Moye to run into the woods before he was arrested moments later.
Several 9 .mm bullets were found on his person and a 9 .mm semi-automatic pistol was found partially covered in leaves about 30 yards from where Moye ran into the woods.
Moye testified he could not be charged on the possession of a firearm charge, because officers did not see him holding a gun.
The state presented evidence of a phone call Moye had with a family member where he said, “I got rid of the gun.” Two jailers also testified Moye told them the same thing.
Moye had previously been sentenced to prison four separate times for charges of robbery, car theft, possession of a controlled substance and indecency with a child by exposure.
Babin said that Koi did a “great job and that justice was served,” and he thanked Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford, Ivanhoe Chief of Police Steve Drumm and DA office investigator Donald Calhoon and DA felony assistant Paula Nash for their efforts.
