Livingston Man, 59, Gets 40 Years After Child's Forensic Interview Sways Polk County Jury

A Polk County jury sentenced 59-year-old Thomas Eugene Fuller of Livingston to 40 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after convicting him of indecency with a child by sexual contact, following a trial that leaned heavily on forensic interview evidence and testimony from the young victim. The trial began on August 24, 2026, in the 258th Judicial District Court, with Judge Travis E. Kitchens Jr. presiding over the proceedings.

The case originated when the victim's mother reported the matter to law enforcement, according to Greenville Chronicle. Fuller had been residing at the home of the victim's adopted grandmother, and trial testimony indicated the abuse occurred there. Captain Craig Finegan of the Polk County Sheriff's Office led the investigation, and the office ultimately referred the case to Childrenz Haven, the county's dedicated child advocacy center, for a specialized forensic interview.

During the trial, the victim testified about an inappropriate sexual incident involving Fuller and eventually disclosed the assault to her mother, per the same reporting. Prosecutors said Fuller had discouraged and intimidated the victim from disclosing the abuse, and the outlet's account notes that delayed disclosure is common in child abuse cases and does not lessen the seriousness of the crime.

Forensic Interview Anchored the Prosecution's Case

Kaycee Hendrix testified about the standardized forensic interview process, explaining that the interview used neutral, non-leading questions. The child provided clear details of the incident during that interview, which was conducted at Childrenz Haven — a facility established on September 1, 2009, as the 64th Children's Advocacy Center in Texas, per Childrenz Haven. The center serves victims of child abuse ages 0 to 17 in Polk County through neutral forensic interviews, family advocacy, and trauma therapy.

Children's Advocacy Centers across Texas rely on these standardized interviewing protocols specifically to gather detailed, neutral statements while avoiding repeated questioning by multiple agencies, according to Childrenz Haven's own materials. Investigators also interviewed Fuller as part of the case. Krysti Griffin assisted with the medical aspects of the case, while District Attorney Shelly Sitton's prosecution team — led by Scott Ferguson, with support from Taylor Grimm and Megan Knighton — presented the case to the jury.

DA Sitton Commends Victim, Vows Continued Pursuit of Offenders

Following the conviction, Sitton announced Fuller's conviction and sentence, saying her office is committed to thoroughly pursuing the truth and holding offenders accountable through the criminal justice system. She commended the victim's bravery in testifying and said children deserve to be safe, believed, and protected. The Polk County jury convicted Fuller of felony child sexual abuse before he was sentenced to the 40-year term.

That sentence far exceeds the standard range for the offense. Indecency with a child by sexual contact is classified under Texas Penal Code Section 21.11 as a second-degree felony, which normally carries a prison sentence of 2 to 20 years and a fine of up to $10,000, according to the Law Office of Michael J Crawford. Fuller's 40-year term suggests statutory sentence enhancements were applied, typically stemming from prior convictions or aggravating factors. Under Texas criminal law, prosecutors in child indecency cases are also not required to prove a defendant knew the child's actual age, since a mistaken belief about age is not a valid legal defense, per the Whalen Law Office.

A Prior Brush With the Law in Polk County

Local press records show Fuller had earlier law enforcement contact in Polk County, including an October 2009 arrest for driving while intoxicated and failure to render aid after a vehicle collision that resulted in a two-year-old child being Life Flighted to a Houston hospital, according to PolkCountyToday.com. That report noted Fuller was apprehended by Polk County deputies after another individual initially falsely claimed to have been driving the vehicle.

Once Fuller completes his 40-year sentence, he will face mandatory lifetime sex offender registration under Texas law, according to the Law Office of Mike Howard. That lifetime registration requirement includes ongoing address verification and statutory limits on residency and employment near schools and daycares.

Part of a Broader Push in Polk County

The Fuller case comes amid a string of child protection enforcement actions in Polk County. Captain Finegan and Childrenz Haven staff collaborated in May 2026 on a separate felony child injury case that resulted in arrest warrants for a child's stepfather and mother, according to the Polk County Enterprise, illustrating an ongoing partnership between local law enforcement and the advocacy center. Just days before Fuller's trial began, caught a fugitive after 8 years when Polk County Sheriff's deputies captured 52-year-old Doyle Cheek near Lake Livingston, ending an eight-year run from an outstanding warrant for aggravated sexual assault of a child in Tarrant County.

The DA's office has been managing its felony docket amid staffing challenges. In December 2025, Sitton requested and received approval from the Polk County Commissioners Court to hire independent contract attorneys to prosecute felony cases due to open Assistant District Attorney vacancies, according to East Texas News. Authorities continue to encourage anyone with knowledge of child abuse to report it to local law enforcement or child protective services.