Robert Cosby Jr., the son of “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Mary Cosby, has pleaded guilty to charges of assault and violating a protective order, court documents show.
The 23-year-old entered his plea on Nov. 25 in Salt Lake County District Court, according to the records.
Cosby Jr. had faced more than a dozen charges stemming from incidents from September to November related to violations of orders to stay away from his wife, Alexiana Smokoff.
Court records show he pleaded guilty to two counts of violation of a pretrial protective order and assault of a peace officer. A charge of property damage greater than or equal to $5,000 was held in abeyance, meaning he pleaded guilty or no contest and after completing the conditions of the plea agreement the charge will be dismissed.
Other charges including criminal trespass, interfering with a peace officer and failure to stop at command of law enforcement were dropped with prejudice as part of the agreement.
On Season 4 of “RHOSLC,” star Mary Cosby said her son had gotten married, and that he and his wife lived with her.
Robert Cosby Jr. was arrested in the Salt Lake area on Sept. 5 on “a misdemeanor domestic violence matter,” involving his wife and released, according to court documents related to the arrest.
He was arrested again two days later, accused of attempting to break into his father-in-law’s residence through the dog door and assaulting the man in the front yard, according to the criminal complaint filed in the case. An officer who arrived on the scene yelled at Cosby to stop but he did not, the complaint said. Cosby Jr. was also accused of sending his wife multiple text messages, in violation of a jail release agreement from the Sept. 5 arrest, according to the complaint.
Cosby Jr. was served in court with a pretrial protective order on Sept. 15, and with a protective order granted on Oct. 7, both barring him from directly or indirectly communicating with his wife, and ordering him to stay away from her residence, court documents said.
Smokoff had reported to police that Cosby Jr. violated the protective orders saying that on Oct. 31 he requested to follow her on Instagram and on Nov. 2 had food dropped to her home, court documents said.
Then on Nov. 9, a Taylorsville police officer was dispatched to a domestic violence incident where Cosby Jr. was accused of kicking his mother-in-law’s vehicle, causing property damage, ignoring officer commands and biting one of the officers, according to a probable cause affidavit. During an interview with law enforcement, he admitted he was aware he was served with protective orders, but chose to go to the home anyway, the affidavit said. He was arrested that same day.
In Cosby Jr.’s Nov. 25 notification of charges filing, he promised to pay full restitution to the victims.
During that hearing, his attorney moved for pretrial release, but the court denied the motion, meaning Cosby Jr. will remain in jail until his sentencing on Feb. 3.
“Robert pled to several misdemeanor offenses and accepted responsibility for what happened,” Clayton Simms, Cosby Jr.’s attorney, told NBC News on Thursday. “In front of the court he acknowledged that there was a jail release agreement that he was prohibited from going to that address and he did that.”
Simms said Cosby Jr. was “on a different timeline in terms of the end” of his relationship.
“His soon to be ex-wife felt that the relationship was over and they were moving towards a divorce, and he wanted to continue to engage in discussion with her, ‘lets go to therapy, let’s work things out,’ things of that nature. That’s why he continued to make contact with her, rather than discontinue contact, which was a mistake, and he realizes that,” Simms said.
He said he’s hopeful Cosby Jr. will be released at the time of his February sentencing, adding, “We think that this period of incarceration has been adequate punishment and reset for Robert.”
A representative for Mary Cosby did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
She told People Magazine in November her son’s September arrest “was for his good.”
“I think he needed that. He’s never encountered anything like that. He’s never been through anything like that. I don’t mind it. It hurt me at the time. I was devastated, I was worried, I was scared. But some things happen for a reason to show you the path you’re on. I feel like he needed that and that he understands that that’s the wrong journey,” she told the magazine.
Cosby Jr.’s guilty plea came one day after his wife filed for divorce, People Magazine reported. Her petition required both parties to not “harass, intimidate or disturb the peace of the other party, by any means, including electronically,” according to the magazine.
Simms confirmed that they are now in the process of divorcing.
Cosby Jr. opened up about his struggle with substance abuse in an episode of RHOSLC’s fifth season, which premiered last year.
He also opened up about having thoughts of suicide.
“I just felt like a stain,” he said, adding that he felt he didn’t belong in the world.
Mary Cosby said during the fifth season’s reunion that her son checked into a rehabilitation center for 30 days and was receiving help.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or the threat of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for help at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or go to www.thehotline.org for anonymous, confidential online chats, available in English and Spanish. Individual states often have their own domestic violence hotlines as well.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a 24/7 National Helpline for individuals with substance abuse issues and their family members. The hotline, which offers assistance in English and Spanish, can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). To find behavioral health treatment services, visit SAMHSA’s website.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or go to 988lifeline.org, to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
Mirna Alsharif contributed.
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