DEKALB, Texas–A man accused of sexually abusing a young girl from the age
of 5 to the age of 11 is facing a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a
child in Bowie County.
Jim “Jimmy” Maurice Ceal, 60, is currently free on a $250,000 bond. He
faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison if found guilty and there is no
parole possible from a sentence imposed for continuous sexual abuse of a
child.
A Bowie County grand jury formally indicted Ceal last week.
The girl is reportedly related to Ceal through marriage and was abused for
years when she would visit his residence in DeKalb, according to a probable
cause affidavit. The girl had allegedly been afraid she would not be
believed if she told.
Ceal had allegedly told the girl that if anyone found out about his
misconduct, “he would go into the pasture and kill himself.”
The abuse allegedly occurred from 2016 to 2022 and was reported last year
in a different jurisdiction, the affidavit said.
Ceal allegedly showed the girl pornography on his cell phone when she was 5
and began touching her inappropriately. Ceal allegedly forced the girl to
perform sexual acts and used his hands to sexually assault her, the
affidavit said.
The case has been assigned to 202nd District Judge John Tidwell. Ceal is
represented by Heather Barbieri, according to court records.