Local man charged with allegedly battering juveniles
A Hot Springs man was arrested last Friday on warrants for allegedly battering two juveniles in October.
Travis Lee Criss, 28, who lists a Longhorn Loop address, was taken into custody shortly after 9:30 a.m. at 338 Central Ave. and charged with two felony counts of second-degree battery, each punishable by up to six years in prison. Criss bonded out and is set to appear Jan. 26 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, on Oct. 4, Hot Springs police officers responded to 101 Mark St. where a 10-year-old boy stated he was in the front yard when Criss grabbed him by the throat, lifted him off the ground and pinned him against a chain-link fence. The boy said Criss released him and followed him to his bedroom. He then grabbed him by the arms and held him down on the bed while he struck him twice in the face with a closed fist.
The juvenile’s 12-year-old sister intervened, attempting to stop Criss, but Criss then allegedly attacked her. She said Criss held her down on the bed and Criss’ girlfriend approached her, acting as if she was going to hit her, so she kicked her. Another adult witness pulled Criss off the girl and then Criss fled the residence.
A witness stated Criss had arrived at the residence unannounced and Criss and the 10-yearold walked outside where Criss lifted him off the ground and pinned him by the throat to the fence. Criss set the boy back on the ground after the witness started yelling at him. She spoke with Criss and advised he smelled of alcohol.
The witness advised she thought the incident was over until she heard a commotion in another room and found Criss on top of the 12-year-old girl, holding her down for five minutes.
• An attempted residential burglary on Tuesday led to the arrest of a local man.
Meshach Ozone Neal, 23, who lists a Park Avenue address, was taken into custody shortly after 12:30 p.m. and charged with criminal attempt at residential burglary, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and first-degree criminal mischief under $1,000, a misdemeanor punishable up to one year in jail. Neal remained in custody Wednesday in lieu of $4,500 bond and is set to appear Feb. 2 in district court.
According to the affidavit, officers responded to 1028 Park Ave. in reference to a burglary in progress. The victim stated that an unknown subject was attempting to enter her home. Officers heard glass breaking and located Neal on the left side of the residence. Neal had allegedly thrown an unknown object into the flower bed and was detained. The broken window was valued at $100.
Neal reportedly admitted he threw a rock through the window and had checked the door knobs of all entry doors to the residence.