(McKinney, Texas) – Michael Whitfield, 39, of Allen, Texas, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, announced Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis. “This case shows that one child’s courage to tell a trusting adult can expose the sad but dark truth of how widespread a child predator’s harm reaches, to additional victims and their family members,” stated Willis after sentencing.
Whitfield was close to the child’s family and had ongoing access to the child. He sexually abused the victim when she was 4 years old. The abuse was discovered when the child told a family member about it. A family member reported it to the police and the defendant was arrested months later after fleeing to Florida.
Allen Police Department Detective William Brewer investigated the case, assisted by the U.S. Marshalls. The child was forensically interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, where the child disclosed additional details about the abuse. Through the investigation, an additional victim was identified as well. This victim was 8 years old at the time of the abuse.
The jury returned a guilty verdict and assessed punishment at life in prison for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. By law, a sentence for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under 6 is without eligibility for parole.
Judge Tom Nowak presided over the jury trial.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Ann Mathew and Geeta Singletary prosecuted the case, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Gregory Bowers, Victim Assistance Coordinator Melissa White, and Legal Secretary Raman Kaur.
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