Former Hughes Springs ISD coach Aaron Michael Marshall has been found guilty by a Cass County jury on charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child, two counts of sexual assault of a child, and six counts of indecency with a child by contact. The verdict came after a lengthy investigation by the Linden Police Department, which was prompted by accusations of sexual abuse dating back to 2016 and lasting until 2020.
During the trial, disturbing testimonies were heard from various witnesses, including Marshall's adopted daughter, who revealed that she had been sexually abused by him from the ages of 12 to 16, approximately between 2015 and 2019. Other testimonies included statements from Marshall's wife, the lead investigator, and a child forensic interviewer.
The mother of the victim recounted that she became suspicious in 2019 when she noticed Marshall leaving her daughter's room late at night. Although Marshall denied the claims, he allegedly admitted to intending to touch his step-daughter. The victim did not disclose the abuse until three years later, in 2022.
After carefully considering the evidence presented during the trial, the jury took only two hours to reach a unanimous guilty verdict. Following the guilty verdict, the jury recommended a severe punishment for Marshall: 50 years for continuous sexual abuse, 10 years for each sexual assault count, and 5 years for each indecency count. The state motioned to stack these sentences, leading Judge Bill Miller to ultimately sentence Marshall to a total of 100 years in prison.
Upon the conclusion of the trial, the Cass County District Attorney's Office expressed gratitude to the jury for ensuring justice for the victim and ensuring that Marshall would never be able to harm another child. They also acknowledged the essential contributions of the Linden Texas Police Department, Texas Attorney General Investigator Cody Sartor, and forensic interviewer Maureen Fletcher from the Texarkana Children's Advocacy Center, whose cooperation and dedication played a crucial role in seeking justice for the victim in this harrowing case.
