WACO, Texas — A China Spring man was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday after being convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, a crime he committed more than 15 years ago. Kenneth Scott Dickenson, 51, was found guilty by a jury of six men and six women after a brief deliberation of about 50 minutes in Waco’s 19th State District Court. The victim, now 30 years old, testified during the three-day trial about the repeated sexual abuse she endured starting at the age of 6 or 7.
She described in graphic detail how the abuse occurred both at an apartment in Waco and later at a home in China Spring over an eight-year period. Despite the trauma, she did not report the abuse until much later, after being encouraged by a doctor who had diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “I knew it was going to be hard for y’all to believe me, but I needed to help myself,” the victim said in an emotional victim impact statement. “I needed to make sure you weren’t going to have a chance to do this to another child.” Dickenson, a longtime factory worker, did not testify during the trial. His defense attorney, Russ Hunt, argued that the Waco police investigation was flawed and questioned the victim’s credibility, suggesting she had fabricated the allegations due to personal motives.
Defense witnesses also described the victim as a “compulsive liar” and claimed she was seeking revenge after learning Dickenson was planning to transfer his property to another family member. However, prosecutors Will Hix and Luke McCowan rejected these claims, asserting that the victim had no reason to fabricate the allegations.
They emphasized that the passage of time would not absolve Dickenson of accountability for his actions. Hix criticized the defense’s tactics, calling them “offensive and outdated,” and pointed out that the defense witnesses were attempting to discredit the victim rather than confront the reality of the abuse.
After the conviction, Dickenson’s family members, including his wife and children, tearfully pleaded with the jury to recommend probation instead of prison time. However, the jury sided with the prosecution and recommended the 30-year sentence.
Dickenson must serve at least 15 years before he can become eligible for parole. Prosecutors hailed the verdict as a victory for justice, emphasizing that sexual abuse of children must never go unpunished, regardless of how much time has passed since the offense. “Justice has no time limit,” McCowan said after the trial.
“This verdict shows that those who prey on children will be held accountable for their actions.” Dickenson had initially been indicted on charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child and indecency with a child. He rejected a plea offer from prosecutors, which would have resulted in a lesser sentence. Instead, he chose to go to trial, where he was ultimately convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
The victim’s decision to report the abuse and speak out in court was pivotal in bringing the case to trial. By sharing her painful story, she not only sought justice for herself but also aimed to prevent other children from suffering the same fate.
