FORT WORTH, Texas - A Tarrant County jury has found 63-year-old Tillman Dale Gilley guilty of aggravated sexual assault and sentenced him to 52 years in prison following a trial that began Jan. 28, 2026.
Jurors convicted Gilley on charges stemming from a December 5, 2022 attack on his former girlfriend. He was tried on two counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of continuous violence against the family. The jury returned a guilty verdict on aggravated sexual assault, resulting in the lengthy prison sentence.
According to evidence presented at trial, Gilley held the victim against her will inside a residence, refusing to let her leave. Prosecutors said he slammed her against a wall, strangled her, struck her repeatedly, smothered her with a pillow, and then raped her. At the time of the attack, Gilley was on parole for a prior conviction.
The investigation that led to Gilley’s arrest was conducted by the Fort Worth Police Department.
After sentencing, the victim addressed Gilley in court, describing the lasting impact of the assault. She said the attack continues to replay in her mind and spoke of her desire to live without fear. “I deserve to live the rest of my life without looking over my shoulder,” she said, adding that her family and friends do as well.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Darren De La Cruz and Riley Reynolds. Dara DeWall served as the district attorney’s investigator, with assistance from victim coordinator Carma Anderson, who supported the victim throughout the criminal justice process.
