Henrietta man accused of robbing local citizen journalist

A well-known Henrietta businessman is accused of robbing a citizen journalist Monday night, interrupting her livestream via Facebook by taking her cell phone and throwing it on top of a library in Henrietta.

William Justin O'Malley, 38, was arrested about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday by a member of the Clay County Constable's Office and charged with robbery, according to online jail records. O'Malley was free from Clay County Jail on a $25,000 bond the same afternoon.

Check back with www.timesrecordnews.com for more on this developing story.

Dusti Butler, who investigates Clay County government, was providing coverage of Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde turning himself in about 7 p.m. Monday to face four new official oppression charges connected to allegations of sexual harassment and assault. The charges are misdemeanors.

Clay County Constable Kirk Horton said Tuesday afternoon that O'Malley turned himself in, waived magistration and was released on an attorney bond.

Horton said the Sheriff's Department did not assist in the investigation. But the Constable's Office was assisted Monday night by Texas State Park Police from Lake Arrowhead State Park and local game wardens.

On Tuesday, Butler told followers in a livestream on her page, For the Record, Clay County TX Edition, that she would not be intimidated from investigating by the alleged incident.

Ahead of O'Malley's arrest, Butler declined to comment for this story.

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her Twitter handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Clay County citizen journalist robbed, interrupting coverage