Two charged with child sexual abuse

SMITH COUNTY – A Bullard man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday after two young girls told their dad they had been sexually abused in July 2024, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

On Dec. 12, 2024, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a transfer case of physical and sexual abuse involving three children from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Smith County officials learned that two sisters, under the age of 10, had been placed with their biological father. The two girls told their father they had been sexually abused in July, and he reported the allegations to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Officials also learned that Child Protective Services ordered a Child Safety Check Alert List (CSCAL) for their 3-year-old sibling.

Anderson County officials were unable to locate the children before transferring the case to Smith County, but due to the seriousness of the allegations, multiple agencies worked together to identify the suspects and their locations.

“Investigators responded to multiple locations on County Road 152 West near Bullard,” the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said. “During the search of these locations, the three-year-old child was located and taken into protective custody.” Officers arrested Raywin Lyons,65, and Melissa Branch, 38, on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

On Monday, Lyons pleaded guilty to the two counts and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Branch was found “incompetent to stand trial” for her two charges on June 24.