An Arlington man will spend decades in prison after the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office announced a 60-year sentence for the sexual assault of two girls. Prosecutors identified the defendant as Terry Drake and said he was found guilty of sexual assault of a child and aggravated sexual assault. The lengthy punishment and the coordinated work by Arlington police and child protection agencies have drawn local attention.
Prosecutors outline the allegations
According to a post by the Tarrant County DA, Drake was convicted of sexual assault of a child and aggravated sexual assault and received a 60-year sentence. Prosecutors said the abuse of the first victim began when she was about 4 and continued into adulthood, and that a second victim’s abuse started when she was around 13 and continued to about 14. Both cases were referred to Child Protective Services and Arlington police in 2021, according to the office.
Thanks to the Arlington Police Department for their work on this case and for their commitment to keep our community safe. pic.twitter.com/3mzP96hfho
— Tarrant County DA (@TarrantCountyDA) July 27, 2026
The District Attorney’s Office publicly credited Assistant District Attorneys Steven Elliott and Alec Trono, along with investigator Matt Hardy, for their work on the case, and noted that Madison Martin assisted the prosecution team.
Local response and investigation
According to Alliance For Children, the county’s child advocacy center, child abuse investigations in Tarrant County typically follow a team-based model that brings together law enforcement, medical providers and prosecutors in one coordinated response. The group says this multidisciplinary setup is meant to reduce trauma for children while helping agencies build strong cases, and it is the framework used for many complex child abuse prosecutions in the county.
In this case, the Arlington Police Department was singled out by the DA’s office for its role in the investigation that fed into Drake’s prosecution.
What the sentence means under Texas law
Under Texas law, aggravated sexual assault of a child is a first-degree felony that can carry a prison term up to life. The statute also raises the minimum sentence to 25 years in certain situations that involve very young victims or other aggravating circumstances. Convictions under these laws bring long-term consequences that include sex offender registration requirements and limits on parole eligibility.
For the exact language and sentencing enhancements, see Texas Penal Code §22.021.
Support and reporting
Anyone who suspects a child is being abused is urged to contact local law enforcement or the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400, or file a report online at TxAbuseHotline.org, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
In Tarrant County, families and child victims can seek counseling, advocacy and coordinated services through Alliance For Children, which provides forensic interviews, therapy and case coordination for children who have experienced abuse.
Prosecutors said the 60-year sentence reflects the severity of the crimes and underscores the county’s stated priority of holding people who harm children accountable. For more on how the office handles crimes against vulnerable residents, the Tarrant County DA provides Special Victims information on the district attorney’s website.
