Breakup Leads to Felony Obstruction Charges

 By Will Johnson                                                                                                                                                        Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – A recent breakup between a couple led to the arrest of a male subject on misdemeanor charges of criminal trespassing and felony charges of obstruction/retaliation.

Fletcher Smith, a 37-year-old Grapeland resident was charged with the two offenses after his ex-girlfriend reported Smith had kicked in her door on Wednesday night, Aug. 24.

According to an arrest report filed on the matter, officers with the Crockett Police Department were dispatched to the 800 block of Clark St. on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 10:52 a.m. “… in reference to an unwelcomed guest at (the ex-girlfriend’s) residence. While speaking to (the ex-girlfriend), she stated that she had broken up with her boyfriend – Fletcher Smith – on Tuesday night. He came to her residence later that night. (The ex-girlfriend) went to the Houston County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) to have an officer come to her residence and remove Smith.”

An HCSO deputy followed her to her residence and informed Smith he would need to leave the premises and explained he would have to have an escort from law enforcement when he returned to get a broken down vehicle parked at the ex-girlfriend’s residence.

On Thursday, the ex-girlfriend “… came to the police department and stated that Smith came back to her residence last night (Wednesday) and was walking around the house knocking on her doors and windows until he finally kicked the front door in of her residence. She went to her bedroom and tried to call 911, but he took her phone. She was scared to come to the police department while he was there and tried having other people call to have an officer come to the house and remove him. When no one called and an officer didn’t respond, she grabbed her phone from Smith while he was sleeping and walked to the police department,” the arrest report stated.

When the officers arrived at the Clark St. residence on Thursday, they made contact with Smith and, according to the affidavit, “… told him to come outside to talk to us. After speaking with the complainant and Smith in reference to the incident, Smith was placed under arrest. While placing Smith in the back seat of the patrol vehicle, Smith asked if we were going to arrest (the ex-girlfriend) as well. Smith was advised that not at this moment and he threatened to return to the residence after he was released from jail and stated, ‘I’m going to f**k y’all up,’ speaking to (the ex-girlfriend) and officers.”

Smith was charged with criminal trespass of a habitation (Class A Misdemeanor) and with obstruction/retaliation for threatening the officers and his ex-girlfriend.

The obstruction/retaliation offense is a third degree felony. According to the Texas Penal Code, Section 12.34, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for any term of not more than 10 years or less than two years.  In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

Smith is being held at the Houston County Jail and his total bond has been set at $9,000.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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