October 6, 2015
(McKinney, Texas) – Donavin Jennings, 23, of Wylie, received a sentence of 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole for continuous sexual abuse of a child, announced Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis.
Jennings was 20 years old, claiming to be 15, when he met the 12 year old victim. He began a dating relationship with her that became sexual after the victim turned 13. When the victim turned 14 and began attending Wylie High School, Jennings would sometimes eat lunch with her and walk her to class. Jennings would pass himself off as a 16 year old student, occasionally walking through the halls of Wylie High School with a backpack. He would sometimes ride the school bus and hang out with high school students.
Wylie High School received a tip that Jennings was having an inappropriate relationship with the victim and an investigation commenced. The victim was taken to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County and was interviewed by trained forensic interviewer Eli Molina. The victim disclosed that Jennings had been sexually abusing her and that she did not know his age. Wylie Police Detective Helen Taylor, assigned to the Collin County Rural Child Abuse Task Force, led the investigation.
The jury returned a guilty verdict for continuous sexual abuse of a child, and Judge Keith Dean sentenced Jennings to 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole. Additionally, Jennings was sentenced to two years in prison for indecency with a child to run concurrently.
Assistant District Attorneys Shannon Miller and Geeta Singletary prosecuted the case, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Greg Bowers.
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