A Texas man described by his defense lawyers as bipolar, schizophrenic, and “broken” was sentenced to 48 years in prison for shooting a trans woman he’d solicited for sex.

John Lee Smith III, 26, was arrested in August 2023 after police in Longview, Texas, determined he was a suspect in a shooting on August 23, KLTV reports. At the time, Smith was out on bond for charges of murder in connection with another shooting in Longview in July 2022.

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According to an arrest affidavit, Smith and another individual were on their way to Dallas when Smith asked to be taken to a house in Longview. Once they arrived, Smith made romantic advances towards the unnamed victim, and when she attempted to pull away, Smith took out a small pistol and shot her once in the chest.

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Smith then attempted to get back into the car the pair had arrived in, but the victim managed to take the car instead and drive to a hospital in Tyler. She was able to give details about the crime scene to investigators that corroborated her story, leading to Smith’s arrest.

Smith denied knowing or shooting the victim initially, then said he shot her only after discovering she was trans. Prosecutors presented evidence establishing that Smith had a prior relationship with the victim and that he knew she was transgender.

On Thursday, Smith entered an open guilty plea to a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for the 2023 shooting.

Smith’s defense lawyers contended with several previous charges as they negotiated a plea deal for their client with prosecutors.

At the time of the incident, he was out on bail after being charged with the murder of the father of his then-girlfriend’s children in 2022, as well as on felony gun possession charges in connection with a prior burglary. He posted a $125,000 bond and was released pending trial.

During the hearing, the prosecution also presented evidence that Smith had solicited a minor during his time in jail on the 2023 shooting charge. Prosecutors told Judge J. Scott Novy that Smith had been in contact with a 15-year-old runaway, exchanging inappropriate photos and comments by text between July and August of 2024.

The state alleged Smith was encouraging the minor to meet with men in exchange for money, with assurances from Smith that he would “take care of her” when he got out. In one recorded conversation from jail, Smith tells the girl to “stay on top” of it because he was “trying to make 8-15K by February.”

As part of the plea deal, the prior charges against Smith were dropped. He waived his right to appeal the 48-year sentence.

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