April 25, 2024
(McKinney, Texas) – District Attorney Greg Willis’s office secured a 31 year no-parole sentence for an abuser’s sexual assault of a child.
Paul Wilbanks, 50, of Justin, Texas, was an adult who was known by and had ongoing access to the child. He sexually abused the victim over the course of 3 years, beginning when the child was approximately 6 years old and continuing until the child was 9 years old. The abuse occurred in multiple cities, including Aubrey, Frisco, Richardson, and Plano. The victim disclosed the abuse to the victim’s mother at age 9. The victim’s mother then reported the abuse to the victim’s therapist. The victim’s therapist then reported the abuse to Child Protective Services, which then initiated a law enforcement investigation.
Frisco Police Department Detective Olga Chavez investigated the case. The victim was forensically interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, where she disclosed details about the abuse.
The jury found Wilbanks guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child, a first degree felony carrying a punishment range of 25-99 years or life in prison. After finding Wilbanks guilty, the jury assessed punishment at 31 years in prison. By law, a sentence for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child is without eligibility for parole. Judge John R. Roach, Jr. presided over the case.
“Every day, we hear devastating stories of children harmed by those they trusted, suffering in silence for years until a brave outcry ends their abuse. And we rely on our citizens to serve as jurors and decide the rightful justice in these cases. We remain profoundly thankful for everyone – past, present, and future – who supported and supports this child through such unthinkable trauma,” stated Willis after sentencing.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Baileigh Hale and Mollie Thompson prosecuted the case, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Greg Bowers, Victim Assistance Coordinators Melissa White and Valerie Miller, and Legal Secretary Ramnpreet Kaur.
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