Man gets 99 years for sexual assault of a child

On Friday, May 12, 2023, a Cass County jury sentenced Timothy Brian Kirkpatrick, a 31-year-old resident of Gilmer, TX, to 99 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Institutional Division for committing the first-degree felony offense of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

The trial, which spanned four days under the guidance of Judge Bill Miller, included testimonies from various individuals involved in the case. The jury heard from the victim, the victim’s mother, investigators, a child forensic interviewer, a SANE nurse, the victim’s counselor, and family members of the defendant. The testimonies unveiled that approximately 11 years ago, the defendant’s mother served as the babysitter for the victim, and during that time, the defendant occasionally stayed in the same household. The victim testified that on at least two separate occasions, the defendant sexually assaulted her in his bedroom. However, the victim did not disclose these incidents until ten years later in 2022. During the trial, the jury was presented with evidence highlighting the common occurrence of delayed disclosures and the post-traumatic stress disorder that the victim continues to endure. After careful consideration of all the testimonies and evidence, the 12-person jury deliberated for approximately 30 minutes before delivering a unanimous guilty verdict.

“We extend our gratitude to the jury for ensuring that this defendant is held accountable for his abhorrent actions and the immense trauma he inflicted upon this young victim, who bravely came forward after a decade of harboring this painful secret,” expressed First Assistant District Attorney Nick Ross.

The Cass County District Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge and express its appreciation to former Queen City Police Detective Dustin Andrews, Texas Attorney General Investigator Cody Sartor, Hannia Martinez from the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center, SANE Nurse Kathy Lach, and the victim’s counselor for their invaluable contributions and collaborative efforts throughout the investigation and trial. Their dedication and cooperation played a significant role in pursuing justice for the victim in this case.