Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Continuous Sexual Abuse of Children in Multi-County Case

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas—A Montgomery County jury has sentenced Devin James Alston, 23, to 45 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child.

The verdict and sentence were delivered on Friday, September 19, in the 359th District Court, with the Honorable Judge Kathleen Hamilton presiding.

The case involved two child victims, now ages 15 and 10, who were both seven years old when the abuse began. Alston abused one victim, who was a relative, and another child he regularly babysat. Evidence presented at trial showed that Alston’s abuse spanned three counties: Harris, Montgomery, and Liberty. Testimony described how Alston, who was known in the community as being “great with kids,” groomed the children and their families to hide his abuse for years.

The investigation was launched after school staff discovered concerning TikTok posts made by one of the victims, which were interpreted as a cry for help. School staff reported the posts to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which initiated an investigation by the Houston Police Department. The case was later referred to Detective Michael Lee of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office after abuse in Montgomery County was disclosed. Detective Lee then identified a second victim in Liberty County.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Tamara Tyler and Mary Garcia of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Special Victims Division. During closing arguments, ADA Tyler reminded jurors that the fear instilled by the defendant “will terrify each of these girls for the rest of their lives.”