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A strategic offender, David targeted single moms with young children on dating apps. As a result of his charm, in 2023 David gained access to a three-year-old girl living in Arlington. Soon after beginning his relationship with the child’s mother, he moved in with the family and quickly tried to fill the role of stepdad to the little girl. Just two weeks after marrying her mother, David sexually assaulted his new stepdaughter.
Although tiny, this brave child shared her heartbreaking disclosure with the forensic interviewer, which marked the beginning of her incredible journey to healing, strength, and justice.
Working alongside the Forensic Interviewing Team at Alliance For Children, a detective with the Crimes Against Children Unit of the Arlington Police Department confirmed David’s identity and gathered details pertaining to the sexual assault. Due to unique circumstances in this case and the child’s disclosure immediately after the sexual assault occurred, male DNA obtained during the victim’s Sexual Assault Nurse Exam (SANE) led to additional evidence as it matched the perpetrator through testing. During the investigation, the detective also located a previous child victim who outcried that the same perpetrator sexually assaulted him when he was also three-years-old. Thanks to the thorough work of the Arlington Police Department, Child Protective Investigations, Cook Children’s Medical Center, and Alliance For Children, the Special Victims Unit (SVU) of the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office had the necessary evidence to help both victims get the justice they deserve.
To begin her healing journey, the client began child-centered play therapy with one of Alliance For Children’s registered play therapists. As with all children, play was her first language; a safe and powerful way for her to express what words couldn’t. Fortunately, not only was she highly verbal for her age, but at a unique developmental stage. She was able to transition from play-based to talk therapy as her healing progressed, a modality that best fit her needs at the time.
While she was on her healing journey, SVU received the case filed by the Arlington Police Department and a trial date was set.
This past September, this child faced a new challenge: the court system. As the trial process tends to reopen old trauma wounds, the family was reengaged in services provided by Alliance For Children in the months leading up to court. In compliance with a defendant's rights per the United States’s Constitution, when requested, victims, even those as young as three, must testify against their abuser in court. Through court preparation provided by Alliance For Children’s Family Advocate Program and by re-entering therapy, this victim faced her abuser with confidence.
After four long, emotional days of court, the jury found the perpetrator guilty of “super” aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced him to 50 years in prison. A “super” aggravated sexual assault is an offense that occurs when the child is under the age of six or if the offender has been previously convicted of a violent sexual assault of a victim under the age of 14. This survivor is now receiving post-court care from Alliance For Children, where she will be empowered to continue to heal, thrive, and return to the simplicities of childhood.
This verdict brought justice to these victims and could not have happened without the coordinated efforts of every facet of the Multidisciplinary Team. It continues to remain evident that these cases are stronger, and healing is possible for every child abuse victim in Tarrant County because of the thoughtful, tailormade efforts for every child in need of the children’s advocacy center model.
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