Waco man gets deferred probation in sexual assault of girl, 13

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A Waco man was placed on deferred felony probation Wednesday in the 2021 sexual abuse of a 13-year-old family friend.

Judge Susan Kelly of Waco’s 54th State District Court sentenced Dalton Lane Barnes, 26, to deferred probation for 10 years and fined him $1,000 on each of two counts of indecency with a child by contact.

The judge also ordered him to perform 300 hours of community service and to be supervised on the probation department’s sex offender caseload.

Barnes also was indicted in January 2022 on a first-degree felony aggravated sexual assault of a child count. However, prosecutors dismissed that charge in exchange for his guilty pleas to the two indecency counts.

The victim and her family were in court Wednesday for Barnes’ sentencing, but they made no victim impact statements.

The brother of the victim said after Barnes was sentenced that Barnes was a “very close family friend” who betrayed the family’s trust in him. The victim’s mother said Barnes was like a family member who they allowed to “house sit” for them when they were away.

The girl’s brother said the family wants to thank the Waco Police Department and the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office for the manner in which they handled the case. The mother said she had no desire to see Barnes go to prison but added that she feels better knowing he must register as a sex offender and will be supervised on the sex offender caseload.