Bartlesville police: Man threatens to shoot wife, church

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - A Bartlesville man is behind bars after he allegedly threatened to shoot his estranged wife, her family and members of a Mormon church, according to police.

Rory Allen Smith, 38, arrested in September on an assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charge, was in Washington County District Court on Monday facing a charge of planning, conspiring or endeavoring to perform an act of violence after a former conviction of two or more felonies.

The judge set Smith's bond to $200,000 – $150,000 for the threats and $50,000 for drug charges.

According to the affidavit, police on Nov. 11 were notified the estranged wife – also a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints on Swan Drive in Bartlesville-- had been receiving threatening texts from Smith.

Police meeting with the woman learned the texts from Smith allegedly said on that day, a Sunday, he would come to the church and shoot her, her parents and the members of the congregation.

In earlier texts, he threatened to burn down her and her parent's home, according to the report.

When police spoke with Smith at a Bartlesville motel, he admitted he had made the threats and said he was mad at his wife when he made the threats.

Police searching his room found a syringe and two small plastic bags bearing suspected methamphetamine.

Smith is due back in court on Nov. 30.