December 5, 2022
(McKinney, Texas) – District Attorney Greg Willis announced that Kernell Zeno Jr., 24, of McKinney, Texas, was sentenced to 50 years in prison without parole after the jury found him guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child. “These two children courageously tried to outsmart their abuser and install their own protection, courageously told a trusted adult who ultimately did not help them, and then courageously testified against their abuser. We are grateful to this jury for recognizing their courage and making sure this predator never assaults another child,” stated Willis after sentencing.
Zeno was an adult who was known by and had ongoing access to two children who ultimately disclosed their abuse. He sexually abused the two victims over the course of five years, starting when the children were as young as nine years old.
In an attempt to stop the abuse, both children saved up money to purchase locks for their bedroom doors. But Zeno continued to prey upon the victims by prying open those locks with a knife. The jury even saw pictures of the knife’s multiple pry marks on both door frames of their rooms.
The abuse continued even after one of the children disclosed the abuse to another family member, who did not report the abuse to law enforcement. Ultimately, one of the children disclosed the abuse to a therapist. The abuse was then reported to McKinney Police Department and CPS.
McKinney Police Department Detective Zachary Craven investigated the case. The children were forensically interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, where they disclosed details about the abuse.
The jury found Zeno guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child. During the punishment phase of the trial, the jury learned that Zeno had previously served time in a Texas state prison after being convicted of felony criminal mischief in 2019. The prosecutors also presented evidence that Zeno had a pending felony charge in Collin County for Burglary of a Habitation committed in McKinney in 2020. Zeno broke into a stranger’s home and stole jewelry and money. Zeno was identified by fingerprints left at the scene and surveillance footage.
After considering all the evidence, the jury assessed punishment at 50 years in prison. By law, a sentence for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child is without eligibility for parole.
Judge Richard Davis presided over the case.
Assistant District Attorneys Ann Mathew and Alex Oesterich prosecuted the case, assisted by Collin County District Attorney Investigator Greg Bowers, Victim Assistance Coordinator Casey Hendrix, and Legal Secretary Christy Ware.
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