CENTRAL TEXAS -- A man who has a prior murder conviction from 2002 and a lengthy criminal history has been arrested by Austin police after he allegedly burglarized several businesses throughout Austin, Round Rock and Williamson County.
The man identified by Austin police as Donovan Smith, 46, has convictions in Texas dating back to 1991 for crimes including criminal trespassing, possessing marijuana and burglarizing habitations, according to documents obtained by KVUE.
A press release dated Feb. 28, 2014, states Smith was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the United States District Court in Seattle for possessing stolen firearms. The press release adds that Smith committed the burglaries in Texas just weeks after he was released from a New Mexico prison for a second-degree murder conviction. Smith was convicted for being a co-defendant in the 2002 murder of a 21-year-old woman in New Mexico, the press released states. Smith allegedly assisted in the murder by fleeing the state with the firearm used to shoot the woman and for attempting to get rid of the gun.
An affidavit from the Austin Police Department obtained by KVUE accuses Smith of burglarizing several businesses in Central Texas. Austin police also noted in the affidavit that he has a prior murder conviction from New Mexico.
From June 2 through June 9, Austin police said they responded to a hair lounge, a nail salon and a fitness center for reports that a rock was thrown through the glass doors of the businesses before a suspect broke in and stole their cash registers. The suspect captured on the businesses' surveillance systems appeared to be the same person.
Upon further investigation, the APD began tracking an alleged burglar who focused on stealing from salons and clothing cleaners around the Austin area, the affidavit states. According to APD, these burglaries took place throughout Austin, Round Rock and Williamson County.
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Police said this investigation revealed 18 burglaries that were similar to the burglaries that happened between June 2 and June 9 in Austin. Between the 18 burglaries, seven burglaries with surveillance video indicated that they were committed by the same suspect, according to police.
On June 14, the Round Rock Police Department notified APD of a burglary at Tower Cleaners located at 1625 Well Branch Parkway, the affidavit said. According to police, the surveillance video from this burglary captured the car and its license plate. Police said the car belonged to Brandi Campbell, who has a well-documented associate.
Police said this evidence led to identifying Smith as the suspect. According to the affidavit, Smith had the same body type and facial characteristics as the suspect captured in the surveillance videos at the hair lounge, nail salon and fitness center. Smith and Campbell were arrested together on June 15 for outstanding federal warrants.
The RRPD also confirmed to KVUE they believe Smith is tied to the string of crimes that occurred in the Round Rock area. The department plans to file a criminal complaint against Smith once he is apprehended, RRPD said.
Smith has been charged with three counts of burglary of a non-residence with a $20,000 bond for each count. According to online records, Smith is in police custody as of Tuesday afternoon.
