Judge R. Wesley Tidwell convicted 55-year old Kennth Holt of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a child on Tuesday, sentencing him to 35-years in prison, according to Assistant District Attorney Erin Lewis.
In November 2023, Lamar County Sheriff’s Deputies received a report from one of Holt’s biological daughters that he had been sexually abusing his 12 year old adopted daughter. The girl disclosed to a forensic interviewer at the Children’s Advocacy Center that Holt would come put his hands down her pants under her underwear and stick his fingers in her and that he also would hold a blanket over her head while he penetrated her vagina with his penis.
Captain Johnathan Smith of the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Holt, who ultimately confessed to multiple specific incidents of molesting her, describing them in almost the exact same way she had told the forensic interviewer.
“Holt’s confession was a powerful piece of evidence for the Judge to consider,” said Lewis. “During the investigation, we learned that the child’s mother, Kim Holt, knew of the sexual abuse and took steps to conceal it, including sending her to live with relatives. Kim even attempted to remove the victim from the state in what we believe was an attempt to obstruct Kenneth’s prosecution,” added Lewis.
The Judge was also presented with expert testimony from Misty Edzards, a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner regarding the child’s medical exam and history. Edzards testimony corroborated the events the victim described in her forensic interview as well as in Holt’s confession and revealed a family system of non-support for the victim. The Judge also heard testimony from the victim’s counselor about the effects this trauma has had on her life as well as from Mr. Holt’s father who testified that Mr. Holt had adopted the victim out of the foster care system to “give her a better life than with the drug-addicted prostitute mother she was born to.”
After receiving Mr. Holt’s guilty plea Judge Tidwell then imposed the thirty-five year sentence for Holt’s child sexual abuse conviction. Holt will be eligible for parole consideration in 17 years and six months, when he will be 72 years old.
“We appreciate the thorough work of our law enforcement partners and the Children’s Advocacy Center’s multi-disciplinary team, especially Captain Smith’s work in this case,” said Lamar County District Attorney Nick Stallings. “While this case was pending, our office was contacted by individuals attempting to convince us to give Holt probation or reduce his case to a non-sexual offense. However, this office makes case decisions based on the evidence and the law, not family and political connections.”
The case was tried in the 6th District Court before Judge Wes Tidwell. Holt was represented by James Rodgers.
