A Lonsdale man was arrested late Wednesday on multiple felony warrants after allegedly threatening his girlfriend, his brother and another man at gunpoint and then stealing the other man's truck Monday.
Robert Lee Barnhart, 32, of 158 Merryman Lane, was taken into custody at his residence around 10:15 p.m. and charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a family or household member, one count of aggravated assault and one count of theft of property, each punishable by up to six years in prison.
Barnhart remained in custody Thursday in lieu of bonds totaling $10,000 and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit on the arrest charges and a petition for an order for protection filed by Barnhart's girlfriend, on Monday, around 2 p.m., Barnhart, his girlfriend, 30, a friend, 71, and Barnhart's brother, 31, were at the Merryman Lane residence when Barnhart began to argue with his brother in the yard.
The girlfriend came outside and Barnhart allegedly began yelling at her, took her cellphone and pushed her down. Then Barnhart allegedly pulled out a .410 bolt-action rifle from the friend's truck and pointed it at his brother's face and stated he would "blow his head off if he didn't listen to him."
His brother waited until Barnhart put the gun down and then left the residence, the affidavit states. The girlfriend went inside and called 911 and Barnhart got in the friend's truck with the rifle and drove away. It was noted the friend did not give Barnhart permission to take his truck.
Garland County sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene and after Barnhart's brother returned he filed a complaint for aggravated assault. The friend did not want to file a complaint about his truck at that time, the affidavit states.
Around 7:30 p.m. Monday, Barnhart reportedly returned to the residence in the friend's truck, got out and pointed a gun at his girlfriend's face, stating he was going to "blow her brains out!" The friend was there and told Barnhart, "Man, we don't have to do this." Barnhart then pointed the gun at the friend's head and told him to shut up.
He pointed the gun back at the girlfriend again, but then switched the safety on and handed the gun to the friend. The girlfriend went back inside to check on her son, 8, and while she was inside, Barnhart reportedly grabbed the gun and discharged it, but no one was injured.
Then Barnhart reportedly threw the gun in the friend's truck and drove away again despite the friend telling him not to take his truck. The girlfriend called 911 again and when deputies arrived both she and the friend filed complaints for assault charges against Barnhart and the friend filed a complaint for theft of property over $1,000.
The truck was reportedly recovered on Tuesday in the 2700 block of Mountain Pine Road and returned to its owner.
Local on 04/10/2020