Alex Kostich

I'm a 52 year old retired Navy Diver who swims laps a few times a week for exercise.  I found an article you have written about swimming in crowded lanes.  I am totally freaked out after being arrested and charged with Class A assault for swimming into a large (>250lb) woman wearing a scuba mask and snorkel at the LA Fitness Center near my home outside Houston.  Contrary to legend there is not necessarily good justice in Texas.  It will cost thousands to defend myself.  I asked the police if I had injured her, they said "No".  But she insisted on my arrest.  They said witnesses saw me push her. ??  After bumping her on my first length of the pool she was standing in waist deep water directly in front of me to block my path.  After swimming into her torso I continued, non-stop swimming freestyle to get around her.  About 3 strokes.  I'm a guy that strongly prefers to avoid conflict and debate at all cost, so when she got out of the pool and started yelling and causing a ruckus, I just kept swimming.  OBVIOUSLY, in retrospect I should have stopped in the water, let her yell at me and humbly apologize.  I've had to hire a lawyer.  In the article you had commented about a similar case but I wasn't able to find out anything on the web about it.  Do you know of any more details, the persons or location so I can do my homework?  And, do you have any guidance that could help me in this current case?  R,  phudnall@comcast.net  832-859-5471