A retired judge from an outside jurisdiction has been appointed to the cases of a Texarkana father and son accused of sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl.
Retired Texas District Judge Lauren Parish who formerly served the 115th District in Upshur and Marion counties was appointed to serve this week in the cases of David “Captain” Fant, 56, and Hayden Fant, 19. The father and son were taken into custody last month by Texarkana, Texas, police on charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14.
District Judge John Tidwell, who serves the 202nd District Court in Bowie County, recused himself from the cases and Parish was appointed Tuesday.
Bowie County District Attorney Jerry Rochelle filed motions in both cases Tuesday asking that a prosecutor from the Texas Attorney General’s Office be appointed. The motion states that Rochelle’s family has had personal and business dealings with the Fant family.
According to a probable cause affidavit, David Fant sat in a chair and watched as his son, Hayden Fant, 19, sexually abused a 7-year-old girl when she visited their home during summer and spring breaks in Texarkana, Texas, beginning in 2018.
The girl allegedly made an outcry of sexual abuse to her parents May 19 and law enforcement was contacted. The girl reported that David Fant and Hayden Fant taught her to play a “secret baby touching game.”
“She stated that when the game starts, she has to put in the password on the wall and push a button that says ‘done.’ She stated that the password is 1226 and then she has to put a handprint on the wall.She stated this is pretend so the fame is a secret and demonstrated this,” the affidavit states.
The alleged victim reported that “Captain” sits in a chair and watches her and Hayden Fant play the game on the floor of the den.
The girl allegedly said David Fant and Hayden Fant will not give her candy if she does not play the game.
If convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, the David Fant and Hayden Fant face 25 to 99 years or life in prison with no parole possible.
Both Hayden Fant and David Fant are currently free on bonds of $200,000. Bail amounts are set by a Justice of the Peace in the jail in Bowie County for felony charges. Bail is set before a case is assigned to a trial court.
