A Princeton, Texas man, Benny James Phennel, 38, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison without parole for the continuous sexual abuse of a child. Phennel abused the victim, whom he knew and had regular access to, for two years, beginning when she was only 10 years old.

The abuse came to light when the victim, concerned for the safety of another child who was expected to stay with Phennel, bravely confided in family members. Upon confrontation, Phennel confessed to "messing around" with the young girl. The family immediately reported the abuse to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, where Investigator Olivia Penson led the investigation.

During a forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, the victim provided detailed accounts of the abuse. A jury subsequently found Phennel guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child. Due to the severity of the crime, he received a 45-year sentence without the possibility of parole. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis praised the victim’s courage, emphasizing her motivation to protect another potential victim.