Man who doused girl’s apartment appears in court
TEXARKANA, Texas —A man accused of causing major property damage by soaking his girlfriend’s Texarkana, Texas, apartment with laundry detergent had a brief court appearance Friday. While many hearings in courts across the country are being delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jonathan Matlock, 23, appeared before 5th District Judge Bill Miller because he is being held in the Bowie County jail on a charge of burglary of a habitation with the intent to commit another felony. Matlock has a $50,000 bond set in his burglary case but a hold for a parole violation in a separate case means he cannot be released.
A woman called police after returning from a doctor’s appointment Jan. 21 to her unit at the Richmond Oaks Apartments on Richmond Road to report that her home had been vandalized, according to a probable cause affidavit. Inside the front door of the apartment, the responding officer observed four bottles of liquid detergent.
Streaks of detergent could be seen crossing the living-room carpet and into each of the bedrooms. Leather couches, television sets, wood furniture, an entertainment center, the woman’s bed and pillow-top mattress were among the items damaged.
The woman’s televisions were rendered inoperable and the detergent could not be simply wiped off many items. The woman’s apartment manager estimated that it could be costly to clean the carpets and noted that it may require replacement. Matlock’s alleged victim would be held liable for the damage.
Video surveillance footage allegedly showed Matlock enter the apartment and leave shortly before she returned home from her apartment. The woman allegedly provided police with text messages Matlock allegedly sent her that were harassing in nature and allegedly showed he did not have permission to be in the woman’s residence.
When confronted with the video surveillance by investigators, Matlock allegedly admitted to having gone to the woman’s apartment but claimed he wasn’t there long enough to have done so much damage and claimed the victim must have done it herself.
Matlock is charged with a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison in the event of a conviction. He could be ordered to pay restitution if found guilty.
Matlock is expected to appear in court again next month. He is represented by the Bowie County Public Defender’s Office. Assistant District Attorney Katie Carter is prosecuting.