LUFKIN, TX — An Angelina County jury has found 41-year-old Carl Lee White guilty on two counts of sexual assault of a child following a two-day trial. The jury returned their verdict in just 15 minutes on February 26, 2026, after hearing harrowing testimony regarding the drugging and assault of a 15-year-old girl.
White has elected to have his punishment assessed by Judge Robert Inselmann of the 217th Judicial District Court.
The case dates back to the night of September 30, 2022. According to evidence presented at trial, a 15-year-old girl fled her home following an argument with her mother. White encountered the runaway child and, after learning of her situation, gained her trust by promising to look after her and keep her safe.
The investigation by the Lufkin Police Department revealed a predatory timeline:
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The Grooming: White took the child to the Kiln Street apartments and a nearby home.
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The Drugging: White provided the victim with a gummy containing a controlled substance.
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The Assault: While the child was experiencing the effects of the drug, White led her to the Tulane side of Kiwanis Park, where he sexually assaulted her on toddler playground equipment.
The victim eventually managed to struggle free and fled to a nearby IHOP around 2:30 a.m. on October 1, 2022, where witnesses described her as distraught and seeking help.
During the trial, the victim provided a powerful statement regarding the lasting impact of the assault. When asked why she remembered the details so vividly, she compared the trauma to a physical mark.
"Because it happened to me. It hurt me. It's like having a scar on your leg—when you look at it, you remember what happened."
District Attorney Amy Wren, who prosecuted the case, noted that while sexual assault may not always leave a visible scar, it "nonetheless scars the child for life."
The Angelina County District Attorney’s Office characterized White as a "monster lurking in the dark" and a primary example of why parents must remain vigilant about their children's safety at night.
White remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which will be scheduled following the completion of a Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) Report.
