Domestic Violence Results in Felony Charge

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – A verbal dispute over a cell phone led to the arrest of a Crockett man on Wednesday, Sept. 6 for a charge of assaulting a family member, a member of a household or a date.

A warrant for the arrest of Devon Bernard Hadnot, 22, was issued on Sept. 4 after members of the Crockett Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Sallas Street in reference to “… a verbal disturbance and a dispute over some property,” according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The probable cause document stated Hadnot and the female victim had been in a dating relationship for over five years and had been living together at the residence on Sallas Street when the incident occurred.

“(The victim) said that last night (sept. 3), she and Hadnot had gotten into an argument and Hadnot gathered up some belongings and left. Today (Sept. 4), Hadnot returned and they started arguing over (the victim’s) cell phone. (The victim said that Hadnot bought her the phone and he wanted it back,” the affidavit reported.

The document indicated Hadnot had called the Crockett Police Department “… for a civil standby to recover property. (The victim) said that she was then sitting on the couch when Hadnot slapped her with an open hand on the right side of her head.”

According to the affidavit, Hadnot then left the residence just as the victim’s mother arrived at the location. After the victim indicated she wanted to press charges, the officers walked outside of the residence and met with Hadnot’s mother who was also at the scene.

She was advised by the officers to have Hadnot contact the police department the next time she spoke with him, the probable cause document stated.

“At around 5:30 p.m., I (CPD Officer Todd Little) received a call from dispatch and they connected me to (Hadnot’s mother) who then put Devon on the phone. Devon’s story was consistent with (the victim’s) but said that she hit herself and started pulling her hair out. Devon said that he was then chased away from the Sallas Street residence by family members,” the affidavit indicated.

The probable cause document further stated, “Devon claimed that (the victim) had pulled her hair out. When I was talking to (the victim), I noticed that her hair was still pulled up tight in a small bun.”

Because Hadnot had previously been convicted of assaulting a family member, a member of a household or a date, the charge was enhanced from a Class A misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.

According to Section 12.34 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division 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.”

Hadnot was arrested on Sept. 6 and posted a $10,000 bond on the same day.

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