April 16, 2024
(McKinney, Texas) – District Attorney Greg Willis’s office secured a 52-year with no-parole sentence for an abuser’s repeated sexual assault of a child starting when the child was 9 years old, and continuing until the child was 13.
Joseph Ray, 41, of Princeton, Texas, was an adult who was known by and had ongoing access to the child. In July of 2022, the then 14 year old victim outcried to a family friend, detailing Ray ‘s abuse between the ages of 9 to 13. Victim said that during the abuse Ray would play pornographic videos to teach the victim new sexual acts, saying: “that’s what we’re going to do later.”
When Ray was arrested, his cell phone was collected by law enforcement. Officers found hundreds of images of child exploitation material on Ray’s phone.
Richardson Police Department Detective Austin Trice investigated the case, which covered additional locations within Collin County. The child was forensically interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, where the child disclosed details about the abuse.
The jury found Ray guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child, a first degree felony carrying a punishment range of 25 years to life in prison. Judge Richard Beacom presided over the case.
After finding Ray guilty, the jury assessed punishment at 52 years in prison. By law, a sentence for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child is without eligibility for parole.
“This child not only endured 5 years of sexual abuse from someone close to the family, but this abuser also exposed the child to explicit videos and acts that can have a lasting impact on an innocently young and impressionable mind. We hope this child is able to forget those images one day and rest easier knowing he will spend the rest of his natural life in prison,” stated Willis after the sentence.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Alex Haynes and Wendy Correa prosecuted the case, assisted by District Attorney Investigators Greg Bowers and Ryan Harvey, Victim Assistance Valerie Miller, and Legal Secretary Raman Kaur.
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