Preliminary hearing Thursday for Carthage man accused of stalking woman, trespassing, threatening to beat in her skull

A 9 a.m. Thursday preliminary hearing is scheduled in Jasper County Circuit Court for a Carthage man charged with felony assault after trespassing into a woman's apartment and threatening to "bash in her skull."

The Carthage Police Department arrested Robert Lee Ritter, 42, after the second time he allegedly entered the apartment of a woman who lived in the 1000 block of S. Garrison.

The alleged victim told Carthage Police that she had been friends with Ritter at work and helped him, but that she had never been interested in having a relationship, according to the probable cause statement.

"But he became obsessed and she told him to stay away."

The probable cause indicates the man made 20 calls and left voice messages, leading her to block him on all of her accounts.

The woman called police after Ritter allegedly trespassed at her apartment June 16 and threatened to "bash in her skull."

The second trespassing incident reportedly occurred June 20 with Ritter opening the front door of her apartment and handing the woman a note that said, "Take care, I'll see you later."