KOUNTZE — A Hardin County man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of sexually assaulting a four-year-old child.
Derwin Bernard Arline, 36, was found guilty by a jury in Judge Steve Thomas’s courtroom of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and Indecency With a Child by Sexual Contact.
Arline elected to have Judge Thomas issue the sentence. On Thursday, the judge sentenced him to life without parole for the Aggravated Sexual Assault conviction and 20 years for Indecency. He will serve the life sentence in full, with no eligibility for parole.
The case began in 2019 when the young victim disclosed the abuse to a Hardin County Crime Victims Advocate. The victim, now 10 years old, testified against Arline during the trial.
In addition to the Hardin County case, an 11-year-old child from Panola County also testified, stating that Arline sexually assaulted them as well.
Assistant District Attorney Kaneshia Moore presented the case, with the investigation led by Sgt. Kendra Simmons.
Moore thanked the jury for their service and added, “This verdict sends a message to the defendant and the community that sexual abuse of children will not be tolerated in Hardin County.”
