Bowie County man pleads not guilty to sexually assaulting girls, 12 and 15

Randal Lee Wright with attorney Al Smith
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A Bowie County man accused of sexual misconduct with 12 and 15-year-old girls entered a not guilty plea Monday to two felony counts.

Randal Lee Wright, 56, is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and second degree sexual assault of a child. He appeared Monday morning at the Bi-State Justice Center for arraignment with Texarkana attorney Al Smith. Bowie County First Assistant District Attorney Mike Shepherd and Assistant District Attorney Katie Carter are prosecuting.

Smith asked 202nd District Judge Leon Pesek, Jr. what amount of bail is set for Wright in the two cases. Members of Pesek’s staff told the court Wright’s bail is set at $200,000 on each case for a total of $400,000. Smith said he intends to file a motion for a bond reduction.

Wright came to the attention of Bowie County sheriff’s investigators in September when the parents of a 12-year-old girl reported their daughter told them she had been raped by Wright at his home on Buchanan Road in Bowie County, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The 12-year-old told a forensic interviewer at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Texarkana that she and a 15-year-old relative of Wright’s were spending the evening together at Wright’s home Sept. 20. The girl alleges Wright was drinking and forced the girls to play “quarters” and consume alcohol as well.

The 12-year-old told investigators Wright forced her to undress and sexually assaulted her in his bedroom while the 15-year-old was present. The girl described the sheets on Wright’s bed as having a camouflage pattern. The sheets were collected by investigators.

According to the affidavit, the 15-year-old is intellectually disabled and reported to investigators and CAC staff that she has been sexually assaulted multiple times by Wright.

The grand jury handed down two separate indictments for Wright in December. One indictment charges him with aggravated sexual assault of a child for his alleged misconduct with the 12-year-old. If convicted, Wright faces five to 99 years or life in prison.

A second indictment accuses Wright of second degree sexual assault involving the 15-year-old. If convicted of that offense, Wright faces two to 20 years in prison. Pesek scheduled Wright to return to court for a pre-trial hearing next month.

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