Joseph Frederick III, 51, was booked into the Travis County Jail on charges of aggravated assault just before 4 a.m.
AUSTIN, Texas — A Travis County deputy prosecutor was arrested after a domestic dispute Saturday morning.
According to Travis County Jail records, Joseph Frederick III, 51, was arrested shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday.
An affidavit obtained by KVUE indicated that the victim in the incident had lived with Frederick at a residence in the 10300 block of RM 2222 for seven months.
The victim was asleep earlier in the day, while Frederick entertained a guest. Frederick asked the victim to help him repair a television, which the victim did.
After the guest left the residence, Frederick accused the victim of making flirtatious glances at the guest, which suggested possible jealousy.
Frederick and the victim then began arguing and exchanging insults, before the victim attempted to knock over a television stand, which Frederick stopped. The victim then returned to his room and locked the door.
According to the affidavit, the victim began packing her belongings with the intention of leaving, which then prompted Frederick to attempt to force the door open, thereby damaging it.
The victim then opened the door to try to go to the bathroom. When he opened it, Frederick was standing in the doorway, pointing a silver Smith and Wesson .38 revolver at him.
The victim reported to police that Frederick made threatening comments to her such as “Get away from me” and “You are a danger to yourself and everyone around you.”
After going to the bathroom, the victim saw Frederick enter the victim’s bedroom and close the door. When the victim opened the door, she pushed Frederick away, after which Frederick pointed the gun at him and said, “I’m going to shoot you.”
Police reviewed the video taken by the victim and observed Frederick with the gun in his right hand, walking around the living room of the residence. Frederick can also be heard swearing and demanding that the victim leave while holding the gun, insisting the gun was a method of self-defense after being pushed out the door.
The victim told police she believed Frederick put the gun away once he realized it was being recorded.
The victim told police he did not fear for his life, but would not have hesitated to shoot him. When police recovered the gun, they found it was fully loaded.
Frederick is charged with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He posted $10,000 bail Saturday night.
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that the office would “review information about the case and have no further comment at this time.”
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