Article Preview

Armed robbery, threatening texts are among grand jury indictments

By Robert Sorrell

A man who allegedly sent graphic, threatening text messages to his ex-girlfriend after breaking into her home has been indicted by the Carter County grand jury.

Captain Rocky Croy of the Carter County Sheriff’s Department went to the grand jury on Thursday against William Skaggs, 39, who allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend’s residence on Dec. 31, 2010.

Skaggs is accused of kicking in the woman’s front door and stealing a Playstation game controller and console, five DVDs and a Guitar Hero game. After the burglary, Skaggs allegedly began sending threatening text messages to the woman. The 38 text messages, which were sent over a four-day period, stated that Skaggs would kill the woman and disfigure her face, among others. He also allegedly sent a text message to the woman’s friend, saying that he would cut the woman’s baby from her stomach if the ex-girlfriend did not contact Skaggs.