OUR STAFF


Tiffany Adcock has been the Financial Manager at Habern, O’Neil & Pawgan, L.L.P. since 2008. Her primary responsibilities include maintaining client financial records and processing account payable and receivable. Prior to joining Habern, O’Neil & Pawgan, L.L.P., Tiffany worked for a nationwide agriculture supply chain assisting clients with their farming and ranching needs.

Tiffany received her bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University while working full time. Her hobbies include photography, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Michelle Belanger has been a Legal Assistant with Habern, O’Neil and Pawgan, L.L.P. since 2008. Her vast experiences with all components of Texas corrections and parole provide an immeasurable benefit to clients of the firm.

Michelle Belanger grew up in the Houston area and began a career with what was then known as the Texas Department of Corrections during July 1987. She began that career by filling a position created by the Ruiz litigation and that was designed to ensure that certain due process rights were afforded offenders in the agency disciplinary process. She would remain with that program, having worked on several units in the Huntsville area, until 1992.

Looking to advance her career, Michelle moved to security operations through a promotion to Sergeant at the soon-to-be-opened McConnell Unit in Beeville but was again promoted three weeks later to Lieutenant for the soon-to-be-opened Smith Unit in Lamesa. Although primarily responsible for unit-level investigations of offender grievances, Michelle also oversaw security operations as a shift supervisor.

One year later, she returned to the Huntsville area by promotion and worked as the Regional Grievance Coordinator, reporting to the Regional Director. With the 1996 consolidation of the program from three steps into a two-step process, Michelle moved to the Deputy Directorate level and prepared formal agency responses for the Director to review and approve.

After completion of undergraduate degree requirements, Michelle accepted a position with the Parole Division in Austin. She was one of two employees responsible for “after-hours” warrant issuance. Within a year, she was promoted to the position of Program Administrator, with functions that included warrant issuance as well as the review of extradition decisions involving parole violators (to include making recommendations to the Board of Pardons and Paroles on disposition of offenders returned to the State). She also oversaw functions of the unit responsible for maintaining more than 130,000 active parole violator warrants that were published in either statewide or nationwide databases.

Michelle left TDCJ during 1999 to work for an Austin-area firm that specialized in parole and corrections-related matters. During this period of time, Michelle appeared as an expert witness in matters related to agency operations.

Debra Bone has been with Habern, O’Neil & Pawgan, and L.L.P. since 2004. She began as a receptionist, advanced to legal assistant and currently is our Office Manager. She brings with her a vast experience and knowledge regarding the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division.

She began her career with what was then known as the Texas Department of Corrections in June 1986 as a corrections officer on the Darrington Unit, Rosharon Texas. While at the Darrington Unit she went from working in Building security to a Field security position. Debra was assigned to supervise offenders outside the compound. This would be significant in her career because at the time this position was held exclusively by men. She would become the first women assigned to work a squad outside the compound, which open the door to many other women to do the same. During her career she went on work in Field security at Ramsey III (now the Terrell Unit) which included Cannery Operations and Field Security at Ramsey II SAIP (Special Alternative Incarceration Program), which at the time was the first of its kind to be set up at what was then the Ramsey II Trusty Camp. This was a program designed to be a 90 Day Prison Boot Camp. Offenders would be sentenced by a Judge to this program. Upon completion they would be evaluated and based on the progress of the offender the Judge would decide whether to continue supervision in the “Freeworld” or be sent to Prison to carry out the sentence. She would be the only women to work in the position of Field Security in this program. Upon termination of the program she would transfer to Ramsey II Unit (now called the MacStringfellow Unit) working field security assigned to work offenders outside the compound. She would later promote to Classification Case manager at Jester III and would later transfer to the new maximum security Robertson Unit in Abilene, Texas in 1992. While at the Robertson Unit in Abilene, Texas she assisted in the opening process of this new Unit. She maintained files and coordinated committees for more than 300 offenders assigned to her caseload. Debra was selected by the Unit Warden to be a part of a special committee that looked at several ways to enhance security operations. Due to Reductions in Force, Debra left the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for a brief time and returned to the Robertson Unit as a Council Substitute working as an advocate for the offender in the disciplinary process. She would occasionally work at the Middleton Transfer Facility as Council Substitute as needed. In January 2000 Debra left the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Debra moved to Huntsville, Texas in 2003 where she continues to live. During this time she has regretfully experienced a loved one being incarcerated and being supervised while on parole. Thankfully parole was successfully completed; but, due to this unique incite she is part of one of the services that our office provides, The Going to Prison Seminar. She brings not only the knowledge of working as a corrections officer/employee with Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but she also can speak to the experiences, emotions, and difficulties that comes with a loved one being incarcerated and then paroled.

Heather Douglas has been a Legal Assistant with Habern, O’Neil & Pawgan, L.L.P. since January 2008.

Heather grew up in Somerton, Arizona. She graduated from Cibola High School and also attended Arizona Western College. Her father is a retired Police Chief of 17 years and 28 years with the Police Department. Her mother has worked for the School District in Somerton, AZ for 24 years. She has one older sister and 2 nephews.

Heather came to Huntsville Texas after marrying her husband, whom she met in her home town while he was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and who is currently employed with the Huntsville Police Department. They have been married since March of 2007 and have two sons together.

Krystle Hooper has been a Legal Assistant with Habern, O’Neil & Pawgan, L.L.P. since July 2007.

Krystle grew up in Southwest Houston and graduated from Alief Elsik High School. She then graduated Summa Cum Laude from the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Victim Studies and a minor in Spanish. At SHSU, Krystle was very active on campus, including several organizations in which she held executive positions. Krystle has also volunteered her time and services at many area organizations that focus on women’s rights issues, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and has worked with family members of those who have suffered a loss of a loved one who served in the military.

Aline Odem is a Receptionist with Habern, O’Neil & Pawgan, L,L,P. Aline is the newest addition to our vastly diversified staff.

Aline brings 40 years of experience working as a legal assistant and office manager for Houston area attorneys, PEIMS Specialist for Katy ISD and, most recently, as a legal assistant for TDCJ’s State Counsel for Offenders. Aline’s compassion and innate ability to make our prospective clients feel comfortable when dealing with such personal and sensitive issues is an important aspect of who we are and the atmosphere we wish to portray.

Debby Toombs is a Legal Assistant with Habern, O’Neil & Pawgan, L.L.P. since 2010.

Prior to hiring with our firm, Debby worked in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. She brings with her a diverse background with experience in fields of education, oil field and building materials. Debby is also a member of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Citizen Academy Alumni Association and on the board of the Greater Houston Soap Box Derby