District Attorney Greg Willis's office secured a 45-year no-parole sentence for Nathanael Lane, 42, of Garland, Texas, for repeated sexual assault of an 11-year-old child.
Lane, an adult known to the victim with ongoing access, committed the assaults over several months. In July 2022, during a sleep study in Plano, Lane sexually assaulted the child, unaware that the room's darkness didn't conceal his actions on video. Staff notified law enforcement, leading to Lane's admission of guilt during interviews.
Plano Police Department Detective Bryan Patten investigated the case, with the victim disclosing details of the abuse at the Children's Advocacy Center of Collin County.
Found guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child, Lane faced a sentence of 5-99 years or life. Judge John Roach, Jr. imposed a 45-year prison term without parole eligibility.
District Attorney Willis commended the vigilance of employees who captured the assault on video and Plano police for their swift response. Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Mollie Thompson and Wendy Correa prosecuted the case, supported by District Attorney Investigator Kim Voigt-Eanes, Victim Assistance Coordinator Melissa White, and Legal Secretaries Christy Ware and Jessica Ledbetter.
