The office of District Attorney Micheal Murray issued the following press release at 11:45 a.m. Friday:

District Attorney Micheal Murray reported that on Thursday, August 13, 2020, a Brown County grand jury convicted Robert Smith of Retaliation and Assault Family Violence Enhanced. Smith was sentenced to incarceration for 18 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division by the judge.

Assistant District Attorney Alex Hunn presented evidence during the trial related to the indicted offense that on June 11, 2019, Smith assaulted a woman he lived with in retaliation for having been prosecuted for a previous assault against the same woman.

Investigator Chuck Woods investigated both cases and testified about the extent of the woman’s injuries – which included two broken bones.

This trial was the first trial to be held since jury trial had to be halted because of concerns of spreading COVID-19. Murray said his office had to work harder than usual to present evidence of the assault given the social distancing restrictions that were put in place to protect the jury.

Selection of jurors took place at Mims Auditorium at Howard Payne University in order to allow space between each juror who appeared for service. Then the presentation of evidence resumed in the District Courtroom with several new procedures to protect all of the participants.