A Wellington man received two life sentences after a jury found him guilty of sexual assault of a child, according to a release from the 100th Judicial District Attorney's Office. The jury found Larry Deshawn Thomas, 55, guilty of the second-degree felony offense. The case began in May 2024, when a Collingsworth County sheriff's deputy arrested Thomas.
During the trial, the victim, who was 15 years old at the time, testified about the abuse. A forensic interviewer with The Bridge Children's Advocacy Center told the jury about her interview with the child. A DPS forensic scientist testified that Thomas' DNA was found on the victim, and a sexual assault nurse examiner described physical evidence of abuse, the release said.
The jury deliberated for 10 minutes before returning guilty verdicts on both counts. It also issued a $5,000 fine and $340 in court costs for each count. District Attorney Luke Inman thanked the sheriff's offices, The Bridge center, Northwest Texas Healthcare System and the DPS Crime Lab for their work. Inman said the verdict sent a message that sexual predators will be held accountable.