Intruder Held at Gunpoint by Mexia Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

An incident that happened more than a year ago has led to a jail sentence that will last more than a decade.

Allen Tompkins kicked in the door of a Limestone County woman's home located just outside of Mexia on Highway 84. Tompkins then charged at her with a shovel. The homeowner, Laura Williams, said she pulled out a pistol and was able to hold Tompkins at gunpoint while her daughter called 9-1-1. Before the police arrived, the intruder ran off. He was later caught.

Tompkins was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The sentence handed down was for 15 years in prison.

Williams said she told the intruder, "take one more step and I'll kill you." News 10 reports that at this point Tompkins mumbled something and turned to leave. Williams said she watched Tompkins run into the woods with his shovel and disappear. Police flooded the woods within about 15 minutes and later arrested Tompkins in a trailer park nearby.

Williams credits her work as a former police officer in Bastrop. She said the intrusion left her rattled. She told News 10 that her husband says she has been having nightmares since the incident that include her calling out her daughters name trying to make sure she is safe. Williams said, "I wished I would have killed him so that I could sleep at night knowing he's not going to come back."