Man arrested on sexual assault charge

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By Chris Edwards
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WOODVILLE – A Woodville resident is in custody and facing charges of sexual assault of a child following an investigation.

According to Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford, deputies with the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office arrested 60-year-old Kevin Lyle Powell last Wednesday, May 15, after an investigation was conducted, stemming from a report of alleged sexual abuse.

Weatherford said that TCSO deputies received the report earlier in the month; that Powell had allegedly abused a child on “multiple occasions.” He said that deputies were able to conduct forensic interviews and obtain evidence corroborating the allegations.

The deputies and investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Powell and located him at his place of residence and took him into custody. Weatherford said the deputies and investigators who worked on the case also were able to serve a search warrant on Powell’s residence and recovered multiple items of evidence in the investigation.

Powell is being held in the Tyler County Jail on a bond of $750,000, which was set by Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Tina Self. He is charged with Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child (under 14 years of age), but Weatherford said he could face more charges, as the investigation is ongoing.

If convicted, Powell could, under the penal code, face a punishment range of 25 to 99 years, or life, in prison without the possibility of parole. Under state law, the charge of continuous sexual abuse is defined as an allegation of a person sexually assaulting a child (or children) under the age of 14, with at least two of the acts taking place at least 30 days apart. It is considered to be a super aggravated offense.