Man Sentenced for Sexual Indecency with a Child

District Attorney’s Office press release

Thomas Lane Boyd was sentenced to two 20-year sentences in the Texas Department of Corrections on May 29, 2014 by Judge Carter Tarrance in the 392nd District Court of Henderson County. Jenny Palmer and Daniel Cox represented the State of Texas. Both sentences were the maximum allowed under the law for the charges.

Boyd pleaded guilty to two charges, one for Indecency with a Child and one for Prohibited Sexual Contact. Boyd then asked the court to assess his punishment.

The conviction for prohibited sexual contact stems from a 1997 interview of a 13-year-old child who made an outcry that Boyd had sexually abused her. The case was investigated, but closed after the girl’s mother filed an affidavit of non-prosecution. Boyd pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with the girl, now an adult, as recently as 2012.

The conviction for Indecency with a Child stems from a 2012 outcry made by a 4-year-old female. The child told her mother that Boyd bought her a “Tinkerbelle” costume from Wal-Mart and took her to eat at McDonalds. Following the outing, Boyd sexually abused the child.

Judge Carter Tarrance heard evidence from the mother of the young child, who testified as to the devastation caused by the sexual abuse and the counseling her child needed. The judge also heard that the defendant has previously been convicted of Arson and numerous other crimes.

Assistant District Attorney Jenny Palmer, in asking for the maximum sentence of 20 years, said, “The Defendant is a clear and present danger…to himself, to the community, and especially to children in his care. Both victims have waited a long time for justice and this Defendant deserves to be punished severely.”

District Attorney, Scott McKee indicated that he was pleased with the sentenced handed down. “I have no idea why this case was dropped in 1997. This victim had to wait too long for justice, but I am glad she finally got the justice she deserves.”