District Attorney Micheal Murray reported that on Wednesday, Aug. 21, Charles Duncan was sentenced by visiting Judge Timothy Yeats to prison on four cases after a contested punishment hearing.

Duncan was charged with three offenses related to child sex offenses and a drug charge. Judge Yeats listened to three days of testimony about the charged offenses and about several of Duncan’s victims.

Duncan, who is 65 years old, was sentenced to 35 years incarceration for an Online Solicitation offense. Duncan received sentences of 25 years and 15 years incarceration for two counts of Sexual Performance of a Child and 10 years incarceration for one count of Possession of Child Pornography. Duncan also received a sentence of 5 years incarceration for possession of methamphetamine.

The charges of Sexual Performance of a Child and Possession of Child Pornography have enhanced parole requirements, so Duncan will not be eligible to be considered for release until half of his sentences are completed on those offenses. The 10-year sentence that was assessed for Possession of Child Pornography is the maximum allowed by law.

Assistant District Attorneys Elisha Bird and Cara Landers put on evidence that although Duncan had no prior convictions for criminal offenses, Duncan had victimized several women over the past 40 years. Bird and Landers also put on evidence gathered by Brownwood Police Department Detective Peyton Donahoo and numerous other officers of Duncan’s guilt on the charged offenses.

Duncan pled guilty prior to the start of the hearing and was legally eligible to receive probation. Assistant District Attorney Bird asked the judge to assess a life sentence against Duncan, despite his age and lack of criminal history, as a recognition of the amount of time many of the victims had to wait for justice. Duncan’s attorney asked the judge to give him deferred adjudication, but Judge Yeats assessed prison sentences in all cases.

If released from incarceration by the parole board, Duncan will be required to register for life as a sex offender under the Texas Sex Offender Registration program.