Ray receives maximum sentence

54-year-old Titus County Resident Robert Willard Ray was arrested on August 14, 2022, for Sexual Assault of a Child. The arrest stemmed from a sexual assault of a child that occurred on or about April 17, 2022.

On the night of the offense, Ray fled out of state before investigators could speak with him regarding the alleged offense. During the investigation, it was determined there was probable cause for Ray to be indicted for the alleged offense and warrants were issued. Ray was immediately arrested upon returning to his residence on August 14, 2022, of last year.

After entering a not-guilty plea, Ray chose to have a trial by a Titus County Jury of his peers. A jury was impaneled on Monday, May 1, 2023, and the trial began the following day. On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, jurors heard evidence and witnesses presented by both the Titus County District Attorney’s Office as well as by Ray’s legal team.

Ultimately, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict late Wednesday evening. Today the punishment phase of Ray’s trial began. Shortly before noon today, the jury unanimously sentenced Ray to the maximum sentence of 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the Second Degree Felony offense of Sexual Assault of a Child. In addition to incarceration, the jury also imposed a $10,000 fine.