A Texas district attorney's office has made headlines for bringing a life sentence upon a 27-year-old Mesquite man convicted of a series of crimes that have left a community shaken. Deketric Charrontay Love was found guilty of charges related to stalking, burglary, and pedophilia.
Love's string of illicit acts culminated in a conviction of Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to Commit Invasive Visual Recording. According to the Collin County's district attorney's office, the investigation that led to Love's apprehension kicked off on November 11, 2022, when he was spotted looking into a child's bedroom window. Although he evaded capture on that occasion, evidence gathered later would link him to subsequent invasions of the child’s privacy, including leaving a hidden camera in the child's room.
On one terrifying evening, the child, while doing homework, noticed the stalker outside his window again. The child and his father confronted the man and called the police. It was during this incident that Love was arrested while attempting to flee the area. Upon searching his vehicle, authorities uncovered additional cameras and items belonging to the victim. Data from Love's phone consolidated his presence at the scene during the crimes and exposed his eerie connections to the household.
Details of the case, released by the district attorney, illustrate a disturbing pattern of Love's contempt for the law and personal boundaries. He was already on felony probation for Online Solicitation of a Minor in Dallas County when these crimes occurred. "We've sent a strong message: Our community is off-limits to predators, and we're all in to keep our kids safe," District Attorney Greg Willis stated after the sentencing.
This conviction comes after convincing the jury with overwhelming evidence of Love's criminal history and clear danger to society. Among the proofs were testimonies from community members about Love's voyeuristic behavior and unsolicited intrusion into their lives. A sex offender treatment provider testified regarding Love's failed rehabilitation efforts, reinforcing the community’s need for protection from this man.
Prior to his sentencing, Love's jailhouse behavior further displayed his brazen lack of contrition. He was caught in a video call with a friend engaged in acts unbecoming to mention, even in the privacy of a cell, let alone before a pending court judgment. Judge Benjamin Smith saw fit to hand down a life sentence, concluding a trial prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Andrew Eberlein and Jamin Daly, with support from other dedicated team members.
