Two life sentences for child sexual assault

HENDERSON COUNTY— An East Texas man was sentenced to life in prison last week after he was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child. According to our news partner KETK, 81-year-old former truck driver Randall Tidwell was arrested in 2025 after two underage girls reported that he had sexually abused them over multiple years.

While both girls were living with Tidwell, he allegedly sexually abused both of them inside his truck and at his home in Seven Points. The victims later revealed Tidwell’s actions once they left his home and were living in Kansas. During the investigation, Tidwell admitted to sexually abusing the girls on more than one occasion and was given two life sentences in prison last week after he was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

“The children had so much support during the trial, from the eldest’s former principal and her 1st grade teacher, to witnesses from Kansas who flew and drove in from out of State to ensure they received justice for what happened to them,” Henderson County District Attorney Jenny Palmer said “The jury took less than 20 minutes to reach their two life sentences verdict. Tidwell will never again see freedom.”