A man arrested in late February after trying to kick in the doors of three homes while nude appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Monday.
Forty-one-year-old Nicholas James Foti, who lists an address in Thousand Oaks, California on jail records, has had an assortment of problems he says have prevented him from retaining an attorney to represent him.
The problems have included difficulties with getting cable television installed at his residence.
The second time he appeared, Foti said he had sent emails to a local law firm but had not been able to go to the office because his vehicle was in the shop.
Circuit Judge John Putman suggested he walk to a lawyer’s office if he could not get there by car.
Foti said he loved to walk, “but the weather is so bad here. It’s just not conducive to walking.”
Judge Putman’s patience was wearing thin and at one point in an earlier court appearance he told Foti, “you appear to be playing games and I am tired of it.”
When he first appeared Monday, Foti said he had not yet completed arrangements for an attorney, but he did report later in the day he had retained Mountain Home attorney Paul Bayless to represent him.
Bayless entered his appearance Monday, according to electronic court records.
Foti has already entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him.
Foti’s arrest came Feb. 20 after Mountain Home police responded to reports of a 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 man 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 is free on a $20,000 bond.
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