Bee County grand jurors returned third degree indictments on 11 inmates confined at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s William G. McConnell Unit when they met Thursday.

Markquis Thurmon was named in a one-count indictment on a charge of possession of a prohibited weapon in a penal institution.

According to TDCJ investigators, he had a five-inch metal rod sharpened on one end and warped with cloth on the other end on Jan. 19, while at the unit.

The charge was enhanced because Thurmon had previous convictions on one count of robbery and two counts of aggravated robbery on March 29, 2006, and one conviction on a charge of assault on a public servant on Feb. 15, 2007. Each of the convictions were in district court in Brazos County.

District Judge M.E. “Mike” Welborn set bond on Thurmon and on each of the other indicted TDCJ suspects at $10,000.

Others indicted last week included:

•Michael Tremal Sanders on a charge of possession of a deadly weapon in a penal institution.

TDCJ officials said Sanders had a sharpened metal rod, more than seven inches long, with string wrapped on one end.

The defendant had previous felony convictions on charges of possession of a controlled substance on May 15, 2002, and harassment on April 1, 2005, both in Lamar County.

•Mark Anthony Wilson on a charge of assault on a public servant.

Investigators alleged that Wilson struck a correctional office in the face with his hand on Sept. 1.

Wilson had a previous felony conviction on a charge of manslaughter on Feb. 12, 2004, in Van Zandt County.

•Ellery J. Deese on a charge of possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility.

Deese is accused of having marijuana in his possession on May 25.

His charge was enhanced because he had already had a felony conviction on a charge of aggravated robbery on July 25, 1996, in Kerr County.

•Matthew Cummings on a charge of possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility.

TDCJ investigators alleged he had marijuana on July 29.

The charge was enhanced based on a previous felony conviction for aggravated assault on June 1, 2007, in Marion County.

•Francisco Ortiz on a charge of possession of a controlled substance in a correctional facility.

Prison officials claimed he had marijuana on July 31.

His charged was enhanced because he had a long list of previous felony convictions, including possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, on June 26, 1992, two convictions on the same charge on Oct. 22, 1999, and on a robbery charge on June 2, 2003, and burglary of a habitation on May 21, 2007. Each of the previous convictions had been in Hidalgo County.

•Preston Mascorro on a charge of possession of a prohibited substance, marijuana, in a correctional facility.

State authorities alleged that Mascorro had the drug on Jan. 17.

His charge was enhanced based on previous felony convictions on charges of assault on a public servant on May 24, 1999, in Brown County, of murder on Oct. 12, 2005, in Nueces County, on a charge of assault on a public servant on Oct. 21, 2005, in Travis County and for retaliation on Oct. 30, 2006, in Nueces County.

•Beau Louis Stevison on a charge of possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility.

Investigators said he was found in possession of marijuana on May 27.

Stevison had a previous felony conviction on May 8, 2000, on a charge of aggravated assault on a public servant in Newton County.

•Joseph Michael Allen on a charge of possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility.

According to the indictment, Allen reportedly was found in the possession of marijuana on July 7.

He had previous felony convictions on charges of delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine, on Sept. 1, 1992, on Sept. 1, 1999, on a charge of escape, on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and on a charge of auto theft on Feb. 21, 1996, all in Harris County.

In addition, Allen was convicted of assault on a public servant and possession of a deadly weapon in a penal institution on Nov. 8, 2004, in Bowie County.

•Matthew Moore on two counts of possession of a prohibited item in a correctional facility.

Investigators claimed that the defendant had cellular phones in his possession on July 24.

He had a previous conviction for forgery-passing on May 8, 2000, in Colorado County.

•Ti-Juan Crew Washington on a charge of possession of a prohibited item in a correctional facility.

Prison officials alleged he had a cellular phone on July 10.

He had a previous felony conviction on a charge of aggravated robbery on July 10, 2006, in Randall County.