San Angelo Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Choking and Raping Woman

SAN ANGELO, TX – This morning in the 119th District Court, Robert David Smith, 47, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault, a second degree felony, which earned him 18 years in the institutional division of TDCJ. Smith was indicted by a grand jury after he committed this heinous act in June of 2016.

According to jail records, Smith has been arrested two times before this charge: in June of 2002 for driving under the influence and in May of 2004 for public intoxication. The Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office was the detaining agency, and Smith was placed into custody on June 14, 2016. He will be receiving time credits for the time he has spent detained.

Court documents indicate that on or about the stated date, San Angelo Police Officer Matthew Faz dispatched to the 700 block of Powell St. in reference to an unknown problem. Officer Faz located a female near the intersection of Powell and Baker Streets. The woman was bleeding from her nose and mouth, and she told the officer she had just been sexually assaulted by Smith. Officer Faz observed physical visible injury to the victim's face and neck.

"The Defendant caused the visible bodily injury by choking and hitting [the victim]" while raping her, said the complaint.

The rape took place at Smith's residence. 

After finding the victim, Officer Faz learned that Smith was located at his residence on Powell St. Officer Faz conducted a custodial interview with Smith and provided him with a Miranda Warning. Smith indicated he understood, and he admitted to physically choking and raping the victim.

During the plea hearing, the rape victim appeared in the courtroom and she delivered an impact statement. She spoke about the way her life has changed since that “summer day,” and how she has tried to “understand what happened.” She said she had considered Smith a “friend” and a “man of God,” and she didn’t understand why “God had chosen her” to go through something like this. She went on to say that she forgave him and hoped that this 18 years in prison will help Smith realize what he did was wrong.

After her statement, Judge Woodward took a moment to address her. He said he hoped she would “continue to grow “and to remember: “God didn’t choose you; he did.” As he said this, Judge Woodward pointed at Smith. The Judge also expressed his hope that the conclusion to the trial proceedings would grant the victim the closure she needed to move on with her life.

He then looked at Smith and said he hopes he will make good choices, and when he is released in 18 years, he will be a “responsible citizen.”

In addition to his 18 years of prison time, Smith was ordered to pay court costs and $500 in restitution.