COOKE COUNTY (WBAP/KLIF News ) – A Cooke County man has been given multiple life sentences for sexually abusing and torturing children at his home.
38-year-old David Michael Calhoun was convicted on Monday on five counts of sexual assault of a child, seven counts of aggravated assault and one count of assault strangulation.
The Cooke County District Attorney said the jury delivered a punishment of 10 life sentences, a 10-year sentence and two 20-year sentences.
Prosecutors argued that Calhoun tortured the children similarly to the way prisoners of war and political prisoners were tortured during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
According to court evidence, the abuse started in 2017 after Calhoun began caring for his nephews and stepchildren at his home in Moss Lake.
The abuse took place in several East Texas cities including Harleton, Jefferson and Athens.
“The lasting legacy of this case is that evil will not prevail-even when things seemed hopeless the children were determined to make their story heard,” said Eric Erlandson, First Assistant District Attorney for Cooke County.
Two other defendants have also been indicted because of their connection to the case.
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