A Tarrant County jury has found Tillman Gilley guilty of aggravated sexual assault, and a judge has handed him a 52-year prison sentence, closing the book on what prosecutors describe as a brutal attack on his former girlfriend. After the punishment was announced Tuesday, the victim addressed Gilley in court and said the night he assaulted her keeps replaying in her mind, according to prosecutors.
Court Records Spell Out the Sentence
The county's trial calendar lists Gilley in the 485th District Court and shows counts 1–4, 6, and 7 carrying a combined 52-year term, with a separate count listed at 35 years, according to Tarrant County. The public docket identifies the case number (1886174) and records the disposition for each count, and the entry notes the specific courtroom where the trial took place.
Prosecutors' Account of the Assault
The Tarrant County District Attorney's Office said in a Tarrant County District Attorney's Office post that Gilley allegedly slammed his ex-girlfriend against a wall, smothered her with a pillow, hit her multiple times, then sexually assaulted her and kept her from leaving. According to the post, he refused to let the victim exit the house during the incident. Prosecutors publicly thanked investigators and victim-services staff and credited the Fort Worth Police Department with assisting in the investigation.
Legal Context
Under Texas law, aggravated sexual assault is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison and typically requires lifetime sex-offender registration, per Texas Penal Code Section 22.021. That range gives judges significant leeway at sentencing, and higher mandatory minimums can apply in some child-victim or particularly aggravated cases. Gilley's 52-year sentence fits within the standard punishment range set out in the statute.
Prosecution Team and Court Credits
Court listings credit Assistant District Attorneys Darren De La Cruz and Riley Reynolds as the prosecutors on the case, with Investigator Dara DeWall and Victim Coordinator Carma Anderson assigned to the file, according to Tarrant County. Defense counsel is listed as Reagan Wynn on the docket. The DA's office said the trial team worked in coordination with Fort Worth police to bring the case before a jury.
Victim Reaction and What Comes Next
According to the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office, the victim told Gilley in court that the trauma of the attack has stayed with her long after that night. Prosecutors said they plan to continue supporting her as Gilley serves his sentence, per the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office.
