PA Man Called Girlfriend 242 Times from Jail to Threaten Her Into Silence

Khabir Smith, 25, already jailed on assault charges, allegedly called the victim 242 times in violation of a no-contact order. His bail has now been increased to $30,000.

Pennsylvania Man Faces New Charges After 242 Jail Calls to Assault Victim

A 25-year-old Pennsylvania man facing assault and kidnapping charges allegedly compounded his legal situation by calling the victim in his case 242 times from a jailhouse phone line — in direct violation of a court-ordered no-contact order. Law & Crime reports that Khabir Smith's bail has since been increased to 10% of $100,000, according to Delaware County prosecutor Amy Cappelli.

Smith was first arrested in April after an incident at an Exxon station on Baltimore Avenue in East Landsdowne, a small borough in the Philadelphia metro area. The East Landsdowne Police Department charged him with simple assault, attempted kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and reckless endangerment.

Attack Caught on Gas Station Surveillance

Officers responded after a woman called to report that her boyfriend had repeatedly attacked her. When police arrived, Smith was still on the scene and was detained. Investigators later reviewed the station's security footage.

The video showed the woman standing at the checkout counter when Smith entered and "immediately" began "assaulting her on the head, face [and] body," police said. She fled the store, but was assaulted again outside. At one point she broke free, police said, only to be chased down by Smith.

Once Smith caught her in the parking lot, he dragged her across the pavement and forced her into his vehicle. The woman then managed to get out and sought refuge in a stranger's car — at which point Smith pulled her out of that vehicle as well and returned her to his own, according to law enforcement. Police arrived shortly after and Smith was placed under arrest.

Released, Then Re-Arrested on Separate Charges

Smith initially posted bail in the assault case. In July, however, he was arrested again on unrelated weapons and theft charges. It was during this second period of pretrial detention that he allegedly made the 242 phone calls to the victim from the earlier case, according to a courtroom account by the Delaware County Daily Times.

At a recent bail hearing, prosecutor Cappelli moved to revoke bail in the original assault and kidnapping case. She told the judge she had been reviewing case materials the previous week when she noticed the volume of recorded calls — 242 in total since April — all made in violation of the no-contact order.

Threat Recorded on Jailhouse Line

In at least one of the recorded calls, Smith allegedly threatened the woman against testifying, while simultaneously instructing her to collect money from people who owed him debts. He reportedly told her that if he made bail before those debts were paid, "they're going to find out what he's about."

Cappelli noted she had not yet examined whether Smith had also made non-phone contact with the victim, citing the sheer volume of calls as the reason.

Defense Argues Against Full Revocation

Smith's defense attorney told the judge his client had not contacted the woman recently and already could not afford his existing bail amount. The attorney said the prosecution had brought the issue to his attention and that he had instructed Smith to stop calling.

The judge ultimately sided with the defense on the question of revocation, opting instead for an increase. Smith must now post $20,000 to be released in connection with the phone call allegations, plus an additional $10,000 for the July gun and theft case — bringing his total required bail to $30,000.

The judge also instructed Smith's attorney that the defendant must have absolutely no contact with the victim as proceedings continue. Smith now additionally faces one count each of disorderly conduct and harassment.

His next court appearance is scheduled for September 22.

Source: Law & Crime