August 3, 2018
(McKinney, Texas) Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced that Bryce Clark, a habitual felony offender with prior convictions involving multiple victims and domestic violence, was sentenced to 75 years in prison after the jury found him guilty of Online Impersonation. “Habitually violent abusers deserve to pay for their crimes, and innocent victims deserve to live in peace,” added Willis. “The jury’s verdict accomplishes both.”
On July 26, 2015, the victim fled from an abusive marriage with Clark and sought shelter with her three children at Hope’s Door in Collin County, Texas.
On August 3, 2015, while attending a children’s therapy group session at the shelter, the victim received a multitude of vulgar messages from unknown numbers on her phone. After responding to one of the numbers, she received a link to a post on Craigslist with her photograph, phone number and a vulgar solicitation for men to contact her. She immediately requested Craigslist remove it and reported the unauthorized post to the Plano Police Department.
Plano Detective Jeff Rich investigated the case and discovered that Clark made the post on an account linked to him, despite Clark’s claims that the victim created the account and framed him.
The jury found Clark guilty of Online Impersonation. During the punishment phase of the trial, prosecutors introduced evidence of Clark’s prior convictions for Felony Assault, Fleeing from a Police Officer, Criminal Possession of a Forged Document, Violation of a Protective Order, and Terroristic Threat, which enhanced the range of punishment. Evidence presented also showed that Clark abused the victim and her children for several years, and that he made threats to law enforcement officers while awaiting trial.
The jury, taking into consideration Clark’s prior convictions, threats and abusive history, assessed punishment at 75 years in prison. Judge Scott Becker presided over the case.
Assistant District Attorneys Ashley Briggs and Nick Lawrance prosecuted the case and were assisted by District Attorney Investigators Jon Hooper and Jared Clark and Victim Assistance Coordinator Susanne Riggs.
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