James Curtis Sims, Jr., 64, of Sulphur Springs pleaded guilty on Oct. 31 to the felony offense of assault causes bodily injury family violence with a previous conviction. He was sentenced to 25 years in the state penitentiary and was also ordered to pay court costs.

As part of his plea, Sims admitted to being convicted of two previous felonies that enhanced his punishment. Sims had previously been to prison in 1992 for delivering cocaine and in 2003 for robbery. Sims had also been previously convicted four times of misdemeanor assault on females in Hopkins County. 

On Sept. 25, 2024, Wood County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call of an assault in Yantis. The caller, later identified as the victim, informed law enforcement that she had left the scene and went to her parents’ residence in Como as she was afraid Sims would return and assault her again. When officers arrived, they contacted the victim and observed blood on her shirt, face and lips, knots on her face and head and swelling under her left eye.

The victim reported that her boyfriend, Sims, had come home and falsely accused her of stealing his money. Sims began to strike the victim “4 or 5 times.” While assaulting her, Sims was shouting “I’ll kill you, bitch!”

The victim informed officers that Sims had fled the residence and went to his mother’s house in Sulphur Springs. Law enforcement located Sims and took him into custody. 

“Domestic violence is a continuing stain on our society and I take domestic violence cases very seriously,” said District Attorney Angela Albers. “The defendant is a dangerous individual who clearly has no regard for the rules and no respect for women. He has assaulted multiple women in the past and has been to prison at least twice. I am thankful (he) is no longer on our streets with the ability to harm more people. I am thankful for the hard work of the Wood County Sheriff’s Deputies Linda Williams and Christopher Rich for their efforts on this case and helping bring another criminal in Wood County to justice.”