Alton Smith III sentenced to 6 yrs

An Olney man pleaded guilty to burglary and drug charges in exchange for a six-year sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, jail records showed. Alton Everett Smith III, 35, a registered sex offender, was arrested multiple times on burglary and drug possession charges in Olney and Graham, jail records showed. He was being held on more than $90,000 bond.

Mr. Smith’s latest troubles with OPD began on March 16, after Olney Police received a complaint about water theft and discovered a water hose leading from 1007 W. Payne St. into the backyard and window of 1005 W. Payne St., according to a police report.

While attempting to locate the end of the water hose inside the home, police saw “a glass pipe and water bong commonly used to ingest methamphetamine…. in plain sight” on a dresser in the bedroom, the report said.

Mr. Smith and Traci Gene Willoughby, 36, were arrested in connection with the water theft and drug possession.

On March 22, Olney police got a call for suspicious activity at a home on N. Gray Street, Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck said. An OPD officer discovered Smith and Charity Heath, 37, inside the home and questioned them, but could not immediately reach the homeowner to determine whether they had permission to be inside the residence, Chief Birbeck said.

The homeowner later told police he had not consented and Mr. Smith was arrested March 23, and Ms. Heath on March 27, jail records show.

Mr. Smith and Ms. Willoughby went back to Young County Jail on Sept. 10 for methamphetamine possession and violating bond conditions after a traffic stop in Graham when police allegedly found the drugs in their car.