Former Spring pastor Damien Deon Blevins is headed to prison for more than three decades after a Harris County jury on Thursday, June 25, 2026, found him guilty of continuous trafficking of a child and sentenced him to 35 years behind bars with no chance of parole. Blevins, who once led Deep Water Ministries in Spring, was accused of using the trust and access that came with the pulpit to prey on young church members over more than ten years. Jurors heard from several survivors, and prosecutors said the testimony, backed by physical and documentary evidence, showed a single, long-running pattern of abuse.
Prosecutors' timeline and testimony
The Harris County District Attorney's Office told jurors that Blevins' abuse began in 2010 with a child who was among the earliest members of Deep Water Ministries and later extended to two additional children between May 2019 and May 2023. One survivor testified that assaults took place inside the church itself, while another said Blevins abused and threatened them at his home. As reported by FOX 26 Houston, prosecutors argued that Blevins repeatedly used his title and position in the ministry to get close to the victims and keep them silent.
How Texas law treats continuous trafficking
Under Texas Penal Code §20A.03, continuous trafficking of persons covers trafficking conduct that occurs over a period of at least 30 days and involves more than one trafficking offense. It is charged as a first-degree felony and carries a punishment range of 25 years to life in prison, according to the Texas Penal Code. State corrections rules also tighten parole options in many sex and trafficking cases, meaning a person can spend decades in custody before even becoming eligible for release, per the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Harris County marks legal milestone
The Harris County District Attorney's Office told the jury that this was the first time the office had successfully tried a case under the continuous trafficking of a child statute since it took effect in 2011. Prosecutors emphasized that the volume of evidence and the corroborating accounts from multiple survivors were key to bringing the case before a jury, according to FOX 26 Houston.
Other cases show prosecutors using the statute
Blevins' conviction lands at a time when prosecutors across Texas are turning more often to continuous trafficking charges in complex child exploitation cases. For instance, the Houston Chronicle reported that former missionary Daniel Savala, who was linked to a campus ministry, pleaded guilty in May 2026 and received a 30-year sentence after prosecutors charged him under the same continuous trafficking statute.
Support and reporting
If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, exploitation or human trafficking, help is available. Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or visit humantraffickinghotline.org. You can also reach the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or through missingkids.org for additional resources and reporting options.
