Utahn allegedly threatened to kill ex-girlfriend if she testified against him

A 34-year-old Salt Lake County man was charged Monday with allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend and threatening to kill her if she testified against him in a prior domestic violence case.

Shawn Patrick Crawford is accused in 3rd District Court of first-degree felony aggravated burglary, third-degree felony counts of aggravated assault and tampering with a witness, and class A misdemeanor unlawful detention.

Crawford allegedly forced his way inside the 45-year-old woman's Millcreek area home on March 1, then told her he wanted her to lie at an upcoming court hearing in which she was scheduled to testify against him.

Crawford had been charged with a third-degree felony for violating a jail release agreement relating to an Aug. 8 domestic violence complaint involving the woman by returning to her home on Aug. 19.

On March 1, Crawford allegedly choked the woman, then threatened to kill her and her grandson unless she lied in court.

He then refused to let her to leave the house, according to charging documents.

But three days later, the woman convinced Crawford to walk with her to a nearby convenience store to buy cigarettes. Before they left the house, she partially opened a sliding glass door without Crawford's knowledge. She then broke away from him during the excursion and ran back home, where she locked the door and called police.

On Monday, Crawford remained at the Salt Lake County jail, where he was being held without bail.

shunt@sltrib.com