December 2, 2025
(McKinney, Texas) – Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced that Brent Lane Allen, 55, of Dallas, was sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison for Online Solicitation of a Minor and the maximum 10 years in prison for Possession of a Controlled Substance, after a Collin County jury found him guilty.
Crime
On April 10, 2024, a multi-agency regional task force conducted an undercover operation to identify online sexual predators. Allen responded to a Craigslist ad posted by an undercover Texas DPS Special Agent featuring what appeared to be an underage girl and a phone number.
Allen quickly asked the “girl’s” age, learned she was supposedly 14, and continued – sending explicit text messages, describing planned sexual acts, and arranging a meeting that night. He drove 40 minutes from Dallas to a Collin County park, where he arrived at 9:30 p.m. and was arrested. He had 2.5 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm.
A search of Allen’s phone revealed the Craigslist photo, the explicit messages, and numerous additional texts about narcotics, firearms trafficking, and solicitation of prostitution.
Trial and Sentence
After a three-day trial, the jury convicted Allen of Online Solicitation of a Minor and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Prosecutors also proved four prior felony drug convictions in Dallas County. Judge Jennifer Edgeworth sentenced Allen to 20 years and 10 years, the statutory maximums, to run concurrently. By law, Allen must now register as a sex offender for life.
Statement from DA Willis
“When any man, much less a convicted felon, seeks out a 14-year-old for sex and drives here to do it, that person is a danger to every child in our community. My office will keep locking up predators like this because protecting our kids is non-negotiable,” stated Willis.
Prosecution Team
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys John Evans and Baileigh Hale prosecuted the case, assisted by District Attorney Investigators Stephanie Strickland and Jennifer Gomez and Legal Secretary Lisa McCurdy.
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