TEXARKANA, Texas - A homeless man accused of punching and shoving a pregnant woman in a local fast food restaurant earlier this month didn't make his court appearance Friday morning because of allegedly disruptive behavior in the jail.
Eric Jay Fisher, 41, was scheduled to appear before 5th District Judge Bill Miller but a staff member at the jail's video conference room told the court Fisher had been returned to his cell because of his conduct. Miller scheduled the case for a preindictment hearing next week.
Fisher has been in custody since June 1. He was arrested after staff at Burger King on State Line Avenue in Texarkana, Texas, called police and reported that a man had just assaulted an obviously pregnant woman in the business, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The woman, who is six months pregnant, reported that she knows Fisher "from him being homeless." Fisher allegedly punched the woman in the face and shoved her before walking out of the restaurant.
A Texarkana, Texas, police officer who responded to the call approached Fisher and spoke with him in the parking lot of a nearby gas station. Fisher allegedly told the officer he "just needed help." Fisher allegedly denied requiring medical attention and began to cry when he realized he was being arrested.
A small amount of synthetic marijuana was allegedly found in Fisher's pocket. Fisher's case has not been presented to a grand jury for indictment. The Bowie County Public Defenders Office has been appointed to represent him.
If convicted of assault of a pregnant person, Fisher faces two to 10 years in prison.