Lone Star Legal Aid Protects Survivor of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Bailey met her boyfriend, Danny, through his sister. Their relationship was turbulent from the beginning, marked by emotional and physical abuse. After Danny was arrested for robbery, Bailey decided to end things for good, determined to focus on her career as a licensed security officer. But when Danny was released from jail more than a year later, he reached out to Bailey, claiming to have turned his life around through faith and steady work. He asked to meet her as part of his recovery program, and Bailey cautiously agreed. 

At first, things seemed different. They rekindled their friendship, then began dating again. But Bailey soon discovered the abuse was far worse than before. Danny became controlling, possessive, and violent. “I thought things were bad before, but it was ten times worse this time around,” Bailey shared. He sexually assaulted her at gunpoint and monitored her every move. 

Bailey began planning her escape. One afternoon, while Danny was away, she tried loading her belongings into her car to leave. But Danny returned unexpectedly, accused her of betrayal, and forced her to drive to the countryside, where he set her car on fire. Afterward, he kept her under constant watch, even following her to work. When police later contacted Bailey about her burned car, Danny threatened to kill her if she told the truth. Bailey was ultimately charged with arson. 

From jail, Bailey arranged for Danny to take her belongings to her mother’s home so she could be bailed out in the morning. Instead, Danny stole purses, Bailey’s firearm, and her car. Bailey’s mother suddenly found herself with her own arson case to report—and without transportation to help her daughter. 

Once released, Bailey turned to Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) for help. Staff Attorney Brittany Hightower immediately connected her with advocates at Families in Crisis (FIC), who helped Bailey safely report the truth about the arson to police. Bailey remained at FIC while law enforcement secured a warrant for Danny’s arrest on charges of arson, domestic violence, and probation violations. 

LSLA also filed for and obtained a lifetime Protective Order on Bailey’s behalf. Even so, she remained afraid in her apartment while Danny evaded arrest. With LSLA’s help, she used the Protective Order to safely break her lease and relocate. When she later discovered that Danny had stolen her personal information to open accounts and rack up charges, LSLA assisted Bailey with filing a police report and freezing her credit to stop the financial abuse. 

Eventually, Danny was arrested. With her abuser in custody, Bailey was able to reclaim her independence. She completed her security guard and private investigator training and received a job offer from the very agency that trained her. She also began planning to adopt an emotional support animal to aid in her recovery. 

“She sounded happier and more optimistic than ever before,” Hightower said. “I told her that her story was inspirational and could help others in the same situation.” 

*Name(s) have been changed to protect the client’s identity. 

Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org. 

Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org