A 38-year-old Allen man received a life sentence this week after his conviction last year for sexually assaulting a Plano woman.
Detaron Fenley targeted the victim because prosecutors said her status as an illegal alien made it less likely she would contact authorities, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
Fenley entered the woman’s apartment on September 24, 2024, held her at knifepoint and grabbed her neck before assaulting her, according to a Plano Police Department arrest affidavit. He tried to tie her up with tape and continued the assault until she lost consciousness. The victim suffered a broken nose along with facial swelling and bruising.
She told investigators Fenley had contacted her that morning online for escort services. Plano police arrested Fenley in October 2024 on a charge of aggravated sexual assault with a deadly weapon after tracing cell phone records and surveillance footage.
Prosecutors presented testimony from half a dozen other victims during the trial. Police said at the time of Fenley’s arrest that he communicated regularly with sex workers through dating apps.
Fenley had prior arrests for assault. Records show he was a suspect in a separate sexual assault with similarities: The attacker contacted a woman via a dating app, forced entry into her apartment, and held her down during the assault. Fenley’s DNA matched evidence from that case, though the victim declined to cooperate with investigators.