TEXARKANA, Texas - A man accused of sexually assaulting an adult female relative in a local motel entered pleas of not guilty Monday morning at a hearing in Bowie County.
Clifton Littlesam "Kippie" Poulton, 44, appeared before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell with Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson for arraignment Monday and pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual assault; aggravated sexual assault-threaten/place in fear; burglary of a habitation in the commission of felony aggravated assault; and burglary of a habitation in the commission of felony sexual assault.
"The state of Texas has extended an offer of life which I expect will be rejected," First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said. "So we're going to need a trial date."
Tidwell scheduled the case for an October pretrial hearing and for jury selection Nov. 19. Poulton is currently being held in the Bowie County jail.
The alleged victim, a blood relative of Poulton's, was found lying naked on the floor of a hotel room in Texarkana, Texas, and calling for help at about 5 a.m. July 19, 2016, according to a probable cause affidavit. Texarkana police who responded to a call for a welfare check and Lifenet personnel observed multiple bruises on the woman's arms and legs.
The woman allegedly reported that Poulton broke into her locked hotel room and climbed on top of her, placing his knees on the backs of her arms to hold her down on her stomach. Poulton allegedly broke two vertebrae in the woman's neck when he punched her in the back of her head. The woman underwent neck surgery to repair the fractured bones.
Poulton allegedly assaulted the woman sexually as well.
All four of the felony charges Poulton faces are punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison.