COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — A Collin County jury has sentenced an Allen man to life in prison after finding him guilty of a brutal sexual assault and violent attack at a Plano hotel, according to Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis.
Detaron Fenley, 39, was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Jurors sentenced him to life in prison for the sexual assault and 20 years in prison for the assault charge. Under state law, the sentences will run concurrently.
The case stems from an incident in the early morning hours of September 24, 2024, when Plano police responded to reports of a violent assault at a local hotel. Officers arriving at the scene found extensive evidence of a struggle, including significant blood throughout the room and on the walls. The female victim had already been transported to a hospital.
Plano Police criminalists Susan Hassan, Ashley Canon and Bao Nguyen processed the scene and collected evidence.
At the hospital, the victim told investigators that a man entered her room, pulled a knife and severely beat her as she attempted to fight back. She reported losing consciousness before the suspect sexually assaulted her.
Investigators reviewed hotel surveillance footage that showed the suspect arriving and leaving the property in a dark colored BMW. Detectives and traffic camera footage traced the vehicle to Fenley. A search warrant executed at his residence led to the recovery of clothing stained with blood that investigators said he wore during the assault.
Plano Police Detective Jonathan Hay, the lead investigator in the case, later interviewed Fenley and obtained a partial confession.
After hearing the evidence, jurors found Fenley guilty on both charges. During the punishment phase of the trial, five women testified about years of violence, stalking, assault and sexual assault they said they experienced involving Fenley.
“This was a brutal rape, and the jury heard evidence that he had raped and terrorized other women,” Willis said following the sentencing. “After seeing that pattern of violence, they made sure a dangerous sexual predator is now off the streets for good.”
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Ashleigh Woodall and Christina Skipper prosecuted the case. They were assisted by District Attorney Investigator Laurie Gibbs, with additional support during trial preparation from District Attorney Investigator Sarah Putman.
