On Tuesday, June 19, 2018, Judge Evan Stubbs sentenced Bryant Edward Dulin, 46, to a total of 645 years in 13 separate offenses of sexual abuse against children following a jury trial that lasted seven days. Judge Stubbs stacked several of the counts presented for a total of 225 years to be served consecutively.
The jury trial of Dulin began on June 11, 2018 with jury selection and evidence commenced on June 12. District Attorney Sonny McAfee and Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Stacy Burke prosecuted the case and Richard Davis of Burnet County, Sunday Austin of Williamson County, and Steven Wittekiend of Burnet County defended Dulin. The jury was comprised of 8 men and 4 women. There were three separate cases against Dulin involving 3 victims which were consolidated by agreement into one trial. Dulin was charged in one case with one count of Indecency with a Child, 9 counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, and one count of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child. The second case was one count of Sexual Performance by a Child, and the final case was Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 6. The jury found the defendant guilty on all counts except the Sexual Performance by a Child for which they found Dulin not guilty.
Evidence during the trial revealed that Dulin had sexually abused children spanning a period of time going back to 2003 when he committed the Indecency with a Child. The offenses then progressed to Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child which were shown to have occurred between 2003 through part of 2008. In 2007, the legislature created the offense of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child to cover those offenses which were continued over a period of time with a minimum duration of 30 days. Dulin’s offenses included a series of sexual offenses spanning a period of time immediately after the law went into effect to the first part of June 2008. The last charge included the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of Six that occurred in 2016.
The jurors found the defendant guilty of the offenses on Monday, June 18, 2018, and then heard punishment evidence on Tuesday, June 19. The punishment evidence included family violence dating back to the early 90’s against numerous women. The testimony at trial showed Dulin had been violent to ex-wives, girlfriends, and at least one stepchild. Evidence was presented that Dulin had abused marijuana, methamphetamine, various pain medications, and alcohol during that time as well. One witness testified that Dulin had kicked her in the stomach while she was pregnant with the child who later became a victim of sexual abuse. Several witnesses testified that they had not come forward with allegations against Dulin because they feared what he would do to them or their loved ones.
Jurors assessed punishment in the case as follows: Indecency with a Child – 20 years confinement in the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC) and a $5,000 fine; Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child – 60 years for each of 9 counts and a $5,000 fine in each count; Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child – 50 years; and Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of Six – 35 years and a $5,000 fine. The Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child and Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of Six do not allow for the possibility of parole in those cases.
In sentencing the defendant, Judge Stubbs commented that the jury had been clear in their deliberations and assessed sentences. Therefore, he granted the State’s motion to cumulate or “stack” the sentences in part. He then stacked each of the first three counts (Indecency and two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault), and sentenced the defendant to serve counts 4-10 of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child concurrently with Count III. He then sentenced the Continuous Sexual Abuse case and the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under the Age of Six for a total of 285 years to run consecutively to the other charges.
District Attorney Sonny McAfee said he was pleased by the jury’s verdict as well as the stacking order by Judge Stubbs. McAfee said, “These jurors had to listen to heart wrenching facts about a monster that preyed on the young, the weak and vulnerable victims. Dulin’s victims were those that were least able to defend themselves, and he knew it. He threatened those he did hurt with harm to his victims or even with threats to harm his victims’ loved ones while he made the victims watch. This is one of the most despicable defendants we have ever prosecuted. These jurors paid extremely close attention for seven long days, and worked hard at their deliberations. I am proud of the message these jurors sent to other potential predators in our community.”
ADA Burke said she also was pleased with the verdicts, and that these victims showed uncommon courage in overcoming the hurt they suffered and standing up to this man. Burke added, “It took a long time for some of them to say something about the horrible things that were done to them, and admit the fear they had at coming forward. But they did it, and by doing so have saved countless other potential victims who might have suffered at the hands of this man. I am glad the judge ensured he will never have access to another innocent victim.”