SHERMAN, Texas — A 29-year-old Sherman man has been sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicted him of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in a violent attack at a local apartment complex, officials said.
Christopher Dunlap was sentenced April 10, 2026, in the 15th District Court following a jury trial. The sentence also includes lifetime registration as a sex offender and a lifetime protective order.
The charges stem from a June 13, 2024, attack at Turtle Creek Apartments. Sherman police responded after a witness reported a woman was being assaulted and raped. Officers found the victim, identified as M.G.C., suffering from severe facial injuries.
Investigators said Dunlap had visited the apartment complex days earlier under the pretense of inquiring about leasing an apartment. On the day of the attack, he returned multiple times before isolating the victim in the leasing office. Authorities said he attacked her from behind, choked her, dragged her into a back room, and sexually assaulted her.
During the assault, Dunlap repeatedly struck the victim in the face, breaking her jaw in multiple places, and threatened to kill her and her family, according to investigators. The victim later underwent major surgery for her injuries.
Despite the attack, the victim was able to escape and seek help at a nearby apartment. Dunlap fled the scene but was arrested the following day in Gainesville.
Prosecutors presented extensive evidence linking Dunlap to the crime, including DNA results, surveillance footage, and a receipt showing he purchased items used during the assault shortly before the attack. Investigators also recovered a video recorded by Dunlap at the apartment complex and found that he had contacted the victim multiple times prior to the incident.
Authorities said Dunlap made multiple false statements during the investigation and attempted to take items from the victim to conceal evidence.
The trial lasted five days and included testimony from 20 witnesses. The jury returned a guilty verdict in approximately 18 minutes.
During the sentencing phase, prosecutors presented evidence of Dunlap’s prior convictions, including indecency with a child, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, as well as allegations from a pending 2024 case. Officials also introduced testimony regarding misconduct while Dunlap was in custody.
“This was a brutal and horrific sexual assault,” Assistant District Attorney Matt Rolston said. “The victim continues to experience the emotional trauma and physical pain from her injuries.”
District Attorney John Kermit Hill said the case required extensive resources but resulted in a just outcome. “The satisfying part is when all of the hard work culminates in the proper outcome,” Hill said. “The victim in this case deserves justice… and every citizen in Grayson County deserves that a message be sent that this behavior will not be tolerated.”
Prosecutors said the life sentence ensures the safety of the public.
