A man accused of breaking into a family member’s hotel room, breaking bones in her neck and sexually assaulting her in 2016 received a court appointed lawyer Monday.
Clifton “Kippie” Littlesam Poulton, 44, was indicted in January by a Bowie County grand jury for aggravated sexual assault with serious bodily injury, aggravated sexual assault-threaten/place in fear, burglary of a habitation-commission of felony aggravated sexual assault, burglary of a habitation in commission of felony sexual assault.
Each of the charges is punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison.
According to court records, Poulton broke into an adult relative’s locked hotel room when she was sleeping July 19, 2016. The hotel is located on State Line Ave. in Texarkana, Texas.
The woman reported that Poulton pulled her off of the bed and put her on her stomach before placing his knees on her arms to hold her down. Poulton allegedly struck the woman three times in the back of the head with such force that two of her cervical vertebra were fractured and later required surgery.
The woman said Poulton sexually assaulted her before leaving her on the floor. When police and emergency medical support arrived the alleged victim was lying naked on the floor of the room and had been calling for help. First responders reported observing bruising on the woman’s body.
At a hearing Monday morning before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell, Poulton asked for a lawyer at state expense. Tidwell appointed Texarkana attorney Jeff Harrelson to the case and rescheduled the hearing for September so Harrelson can be present.
Poulton is currently being held in the Bowie County jail. Court records do not show that bail has been set.
