Former Kingwood Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas—The Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office announced the conviction and sentencing of Marthaniel Jermaine Dunning, 29, formerly of Kingwood, to 50 years in prison following an extensive child exploitation investigation.
The conviction stems from Dunning’s plea on November 11, 2025, where he pleaded guilty to charges including Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and Possession of Child Pornography. His two 50-year sentences will be served concurrently. Additionally, Dunning must register as a sex offender for life and is subject to a lifetime protective order.
Investigation Timeline
- March 2024: The case began when a Precinct 4 Detective received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a user in East Montgomery County uploading child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
- August 2024: Detectives executed a search warrant at Dunning’s residence on Ford Road in Porter. Investigators seized multiple digital devices and observed digitally manipulated images of nude children at the scene. Dunning was initially arrested on drug charges and two counts of Child Endangerment after children in the home were found living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
- January 2025: A forensic review of seized evidence uncovered a homemade digital video depicting Dunning sexually assaulting a child. The live victim was identified, and arrest warrants were obtained for the first-degree felonies.
Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden praised the work of law enforcement: “This case represents countless hours of difficult work… Let me be clear: anyone who harms a child in East Montgomery County should expect that we will use every tool available to find you, arrest you, and do everything we can to protect our children and our community.”
The Precinct 4 Constable’s Office extended appreciation to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, specifically ICAC Division Chief Chris Seufert and Assistant District Attorney Frances Manzo, for their role in the prosecution.
