Editor’s note: The following story contains language that may be difficult for some readers and may be upsetting to sexual assault victims.
John David Trice, 78, a retired teacher from Stephenville ISD, was indicted Wednesday, June 14 by the Erath County Grand Jury on seven counts of child related sex crimes involving four alleged victims.
Trice was an educator with SISD teaching sixth grade science for decades until he retired in 1994.
Accordingtotheindictment, Trice was indicted on one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child (First Degree felony), four counts of indecency with a child sexual contact (Second degree felonies), a count of sexual assault of a child (Second Degree felony) and a count of sexual performance of a child (Second Degree felony).
In count one, Trice is accused of committing two or acts of sexual abuse on a child 14 years of age more than 30 days in duration from approximately May 15, 2010 to Aug. 15, 2010.
In this count, the indictment alleges that child victim no. two was made to touch the genitals of the defendant (Trice).
In count two, the indictment alleges that on March 15, 2007 Trice engaged in sexual conduct by touching the genitals of the child victim no. 1.
Count three alleges that on June 1, 2007 the defendant engaged in sexual conduct by touching the genitals of the child victim no. 1, again.
In count four, the indictment alleges that on Aug. 15, 2007 Trice engaged in sexual conduct by touching the genitals of the child victim no. 1, again.
Count five alleges that on May 20, 2017 the defendant engaged in sexual conduct by touching the genitals of the child victim no. 3. Count six details Trice’s alleged actions of performing oral sex with child victim no. 3.
In Count seven, the indictment alleges that on Jan. 5, 2017, the defendant knowingly induced Child Victim no. 5 to engage in sexual conduct, namely, to touch the genitals of Trice and states that the defendant knew the character and content of the sexual conduct or sexual performance.
He was arrested on the charges Aug. 2, 2022 and later released on a $150,000 bond from the Erath County Jail.
The initial complaint involved a single victim, under the age of 17, but since then, more victims have come forward.