No plea offers for man accused of sexually assaulting a female relative
TEXARKANA, Texas — A man accused of physically injuring and sexually assaulting an adult relative after breaking into her hotel room is not getting any plea offers from the state.
Clifton Littlesam “Kippie” Poulton, 44, appeared Monday morning with Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson for a pretrial hearing before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell. First Assistant District Attorney
Kelley Crisp said Monday that if any plea offers have been made, they are now withdrawn.
“The state is exercising its right to a jury trial,” Crisp said. “Things are looking pretty bad for Mr. Poulton.”
Poulton’s case is scheduled for jury selection Jan. 7 at the Bowie County courthouse in New Boston, Texas.
Crisp filed a notice Tuesday of the state’s intent to introduce evidence of other crimes or bad acts committed by Poulton in the guilt/innocence phase and possible punishment phase of his upcoming trial. The evidence can be introduced at trial directly through testimony from someone who
witnessed the alleged misconduct or through a relevant other person, such as a police officer, testifying about prior criminal convictions through the use of court judgments and fingerprints.
According to the notice and other court documents, the alleged victim in the case for which Poulton is being tried next month had to be hospitalized and undergo surgery to treat bones broken in her neck when Poulton allegedly attacked her July 16, 2016. While she was recovering in the hospital, Poulton allegedly went into her home and stole jewelry, which he later pawned July 25, 2016, in Texarkana.
Poulton allegedly fled to Mexico in 2016 and was arrested in Cambodia and extradited back to the U.S. last year.
The state’s notice accuses Poulton of repeatedly sexually and mentally abusing a different female relative while she was a child. It also alleges that Poulton sexually abused an underage girl to whom he gave narcotics in 1997. The notice additionally alleges that Poulton sexually assaulted a fourth person between 1998 and 2000.
The notice alleges Poulton exhibited disturbing behavior from a young age and describes instances of extreme violence against animals. The notice alleges Poulton has threatened family members, including his mother, and that he threw a burning log at a younger sibling when she was in grade school. Poulton also allegedly sang violent songs to his siblings and texted graphic photos of murder victims to family members.
Poulton’s prior criminal convictions are mentioned in the notice as well. Poulton has been convicted of arson, burglary of a vehicle, driving while intoxicated, unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, failure to identify and more, according to the notice.
Poulton is under indictment for several first-degree felonies, all of which are punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison. Poulton is being held in the Bowie County jail.