A man arrested in late February after trying to kick in the doors of three homes while nude appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court last week.
Forty-one-year-old Nicholas James Foti, who lists an address in Thousand Oaks, California on jail records, has already entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him.
He was ordered to reappear Monday to report on whether he had been successful at obtaining representation. He had told the court he intended to hire a private attorney.
In his last appearance, Foti told the court he had not had time to make arrangements for an attorney to represent him because he was having so many problems getting cable TV installed at his home.
During his Apr. 4 court appearance, Foti said he had just gotten his Internet hooked up Wednesday of last week.
He said he had sent an email to a local law firm asking for an appointment, but had not gone to the firm’s office because his car had been in the shop.
An increasingly frustrated Circuit Judge John Putman told him “you know, the telephone has been around quite a while and you could use it.”
The judge asked Foti if he had thought about walking and Foti said, “The weather is so bad here. I like to walk, but the weather here is just not conducive to walking.”
Judge Putman said Foti appeared to be “playing games and I am tired of it.” He ordered Foti to reappear April 18 with a lawyer.
Foti’s arrest came Feb. 20 after Mountain Home police responded to reports of the nude male attempting to force his way into residences in an area along Fuller Drive and Ivy Lane.
Police reported finding Foti unclothed and laying on the ground.
One victim told police Foti attempted to force his way into his residence, but he was able to shut and lock the door.
The victim said he armed himself and followed Foti to another residence where he attempted to kick in the door.
The victim said he told Foti to stop what he was doing.
Seeing the firearm, Foti is alleged to have taunted, “ain’t nothing but a cap gun, and I’m going to take it from you.”
The victim told police Foti then charged at him and he fired a warning shot.
After figuring out the victim was armed with a more lethal weapon than a cap gun, Foti quickly gave up, got on the ground and stayed there until police arrived and cuffed him.
He is charged with three counts of criminal intent to commit residential burglary and indecent exposure.
According to court records, Foti was freed after a local bail bond company put up a $20,000 bond.
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