75-Year Sentence for Aggravated Sexual Assault of an Eight-year-old Child

In a recent court case that drew the attention of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the State of Texas went head-to-head with defendant Connor Charles Allen, who was facing a first-degree felony charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under 14 years of age. The trial began on Monday, August 25, 2023.

Prosecutors, led by Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit Chief Lisa Stewart and Assistant District Attorney Carmen Morales, presented compelling evidence against Allen. They argued that in the summer of 2016, Allen sexually abused an eight-year-old child, and this horrific abuse had taken place over multiple years.

The prosecution successfully demonstrated the credibility of the child’s outcry and presented evidence of the victim’s severe behavioral trauma symptoms both during and after the abuse. Jurors also heard about the alarming physical violence and threats that Allen had directed towards the victim in order to keep her silent. Some of these acts involved strangulation and the use of force during and after the attacks.

During the punishment phase, jurors were informed that while Allen was out on bond for the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child case, he had violated his bond conditions by secretly accessing the internet and searching for pornography and escorts on a concealed phone. When confronted about these activities, Allen resorted to violence by strangling his then-partner over the car seat of a 2-month-old infant. Jurors also heard distressing evidence that while Allen was alone with the infant the following day, the baby’s cries were heard, and the infant became unresponsive. A doctor who treated the infant detailed multiple brain bleeds and trauma to veins in the brain, indicating a severe assault.

The prosecutors also presented evidence of unreported domestic violence involving Allen’s former partner, threats Allen made toward the family in the sexual abuse case, and threatening and harassing messages to the caretaker of the 2-month-old victim. The jury heard testimonies from law enforcement officers, medical professionals, mental health counselors, forensic interviewers, and civilian witnesses during both the trial and the punishment phase.

In a swift decision, the jury imposed a 75-year prison sentence on Allen. He will be required to serve at least half of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Additionally, Allen has been mandated to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon expressed his commitment to protecting the county’s most vulnerable residents, stating that this verdict sends a powerful message that harm to children will not be tolerated, and those who abuse them will be held accountable. Chief Prosecutor Lisa Stewart emphasized the importance of survivors speaking up about abuse, noting that while no sentence can fully repair the damage caused, the jury’s verdict highlights the community’s dedication to holding defendants accountable.