TEXARKANA, Texas - A woman accused of punching a Hooks, Texas, police officer over the impoundment of her pet potbelly pig told a judge in Bowie County on Tuesday that she just wants to plead guilty.
Arianna Swenson, 34, appeared Tuesday before 102nd District Judge Jeff Addison for her first pre-indictment hearing on a charge of assault of a public servant. Swenson appeared via video from the Bowie County jail without a lawyer.
Addison appointed Texarkana lawyer John Delk to the case despite Swenson's expression of a desire to simply plead guilty. Assistant District Attorney Randle Smolarz asked the court to refer the case to a grand jury for possible formal indictment on the felony charge.
Swenson has been in jail since her arrest Nov. 16.
Hooks Officer Cole Ogden and two public works employees were attempting to corral the "estray" pig in the intersection of Grant and Washington streets when Swenson allegedly intervened. The animal had been the subject of repeated citizen complaints and Swenson, the animal's owner, had reportedly been warned multiple times to "keep the pig put up."
Swenson allegedly shoved Stokes and Knight in an attempt to get them away from the wayward pig and disregarded orders from Ogden to "step back and let us do what we had to do."
Swenson allegedly took a swing at Ogden with a fist, striking him in the face.
Swenson has been charged with assault on a public servant and faces two to 10 years in prison if convicted. She is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at $75,000.
In court records, Swenson's first name is listed as Arianna and Arianne in different documents, but is Arianne on her personal social media and in a 2006 Gazette article about the local animal shelter.
Swenson will be scheduled to return to court for arraignment if a Bowie County grand jury returns an indictment. The grand jury is expected to meet later this month.