BONHAM, Texas - A Bonham man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempting to break into a home following a reckless driving spree that included crashing through a fence and striking a donkey, the Fannin County District Attorney's Office announced.
36-year-old Nicholas Stan Crawford pleaded guilty to Attempt to Commit Burglary of a Habitation and Felony Criminal Mischief. On July 22, Judge Christina Tillett of the 336th District Court sentenced him to 14 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
According to prosecutors, the incident occurred on Feb. 26 when deputies with the Fannin County Sheriff's Office and officers with the Trenton Police Department responded to reports of a reckless driver in a residential neighborhood near County Road 4910.
Witnesses reported seeing Crawford drive his pickup truck back and forth through the neighborhood at a high rate of speed before driving across several residential lawns and nearly striking a home.
Authorities said Crawford then drove through a fence and struck a donkey. The animal was stunned but later made a full recovery.
When a nearby resident came outside to check on the situation, Crawford allegedly ran aggressively toward her. Prosecutors said the woman warned him to stop and was able to get inside her home and lock the door before Crawford unsuccessfully attempted to force his way inside.
Law enforcement officers from the sheriff's office and Trenton Police Department arrived shortly afterward and took Crawford into custody.
According to the district attorney's office, Crawford was extremely agitated, behaved irrationally and displayed symptoms consistent with methamphetamine use at the time of his arrest.
First Assistant Criminal District Attorney Nathan Young said the quick actions of the homeowner and responding officers helped prevent anyone from being injured.
Assistant District Attorney Andy Garner said the case concluded with Crawford accepting responsibility by pleading guilty and agreeing to waive his right to appeal as part of the plea agreement.
