A Texas appellate court has upheld the conviction and 85-year prison sentence of Larry Perryman Jr. for the continuous sexual abuse of his stepdaughter, A.A. The court's decision, issued on October 27, 2026, affirms the jury's finding of guilt and addresses several legal arguments raised by Perryman in his appeal.

The case, docketed as 01-24-00938-CR, revolves around allegations that Perryman committed multiple acts of sexual abuse against A.A., who was under 14 years old at the time of the offenses. The court's ruling is significant as it reinforces the legal standards surrounding the admission of testimony in sexual abuse cases and the rights of defendants during trials.

Background

Perryman was indicted by a grand jury for continuous sexual abuse of a child, specifically for committing at least two acts of sexual abuse against A.A. over a three-year period. The charges included aggravated sexual assault. During the trial, A.A. testified that Perryman forced her to perform oral sex on him multiple times during her childhood. In addition to A.A.'s testimony, her grandmother and a forensic interviewer provided corroborating accounts of A.A.'s disclosures about the abuse.

Perryman pleaded not guilty and took the stand in his defense, denying all allegations of wrongdoing. The jury ultimately sided with A.A. and found Perryman guilty. Following the verdict, the jury sentenced him to 85 years in prison. Perryman then filed an appeal, challenging various aspects of the trial.

The Ruling

The Texas Court of Appeals ruled that the trial court did not err in allowing the testimonies of the outcry witnesses, A.A.'s grandmother and the forensic interviewer, Caitlin Howell. The court stated, "the erroneous admission of outcry testimony is harmless and therefore does not affect substantial rights when the same or substantially similar evidence is admitted at trial without objection." This ruling indicates that even if there was an error in admitting Howell's testimony, it did not impact the overall outcome of the trial.

The court also addressed Perryman's argument regarding the trial court's refusal to instruct the jury on aggravated sexual assault as a lesser-included offense. The court found that Perryman did not preserve this complaint for appeal and that, even if he had, the argument lacked merit. The ruling emphasized that an unequivocal denial of guilt generally does not support a lesser-included offense instruction.

Impact

This ruling has significant implications for future cases involving sexual abuse allegations. It underscores the importance of corroborative testimony and the standards for admitting such evidence in court. The court's decision also reinforces that defendants must clearly articulate their arguments and preserve issues for appeal to succeed in challenging trial court decisions.

The outcome of this case may influence how similar cases are handled in the future, particularly regarding the admissibility of outcry witness testimony and the criteria for lesser-included offense instructions. The ruling provides guidance on the legal standards that courts will apply in evaluating these issues, potentially affecting the strategies of both prosecutors and defense attorneys in sexual abuse cases.

What's Next

Perryman's conviction and sentence may be subject to further appeal, but details were not available in the court filing regarding any pending motions or related cases. The court's ruling stands as a significant legal precedent in the realm of sexual abuse law in Texas.