ELLIS COUNTY, Texas—Ellis County and District Attorney Lindy Beaty announced that James Luther Morrow, 62, currently of Cleburne, was sentenced to 99 years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing a 12-year-old child who viewed him as a "second father figure."
The sentencing occurred on November 19, 2025, after a jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts the previous day. Visiting Judge Cindy Ermatinger presided over the trial.
Convictions and Sentence Details
The sentences will run concurrently, meaning Morrow will face a lengthy term. He will be 92 years old when he is first eligible for parole.
Morrow was convicted and sentenced for the following:
-
99 years for Sexual Performance of a Child Under 14 (Maximum sentence)
-
20 years for Indecency with a Child by Sexual Contact (Maximum sentence)
-
10 years for Two counts of Indecency with a Child by Exposure (Maximum sentence)
Details of the Abuse and Trial
The abuse occurred between 2018 and 2019 when Morrow lived in Venus. Morrow was the long-time best friend of the child’s father and was in a trusted position with the family.
-
The Incident: During one outing, Morrow took the child to his house under the pretense of letting out his dogs. While there, he lifted the child's dress and unclipped her bra. He then showed her pornography videos, exposed himself, and masturbated while instructing the child on how to masturbate, causing her to expose herself and perform the act. He then made the child touch his penis.
-
Continued Abuse: Morrow, who housed his horses in the family's barn, also abused the child when they were alone, challenging her that he could unclip her bra with one finger and then doing so. He threatened the child not to tell anyone.
-
Testimony: Now 19 years old, the victim testified that she had viewed Morrow as a "second father figure" and was scared to speak out. She finally disclosed the abuse to her parents in 2022 after moving to another state.
Lead prosecutor Kevin Boneberg praised the victim: “The courage this child showed in coming forward and testifying about these horrifying events was astounding and a testament to her resiliency."
The case was investigated by the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant County and District Attorneys Kevin Boneberg and Garett Smith.
