Wichita County man sentenced after plea to child sex offenses

A 33-year-old Wichita County man has been sentenced to prison for sex crimes committed against an 8-year-old girl in Electra, according to court records.

Hunter James Vowell pleaded guilty Monday to charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and attempt to commit indecency with a child/sexual contact as part of a plea bargain in 89th District Court.

Vowell was being held Monday in the Wichita County Jail, pending his transfer to prison, according to online jail and court records.

Presiding Judge Kelly Moore sentenced him to 12 years in prison on the first-degree felony assault plea and 10 years on the third-degree attempt to commit indecency plea. The sentences will run concurrently.

Aggravated sexual assault of a child is punishable by up to life in prison. Attempt to commit indecency with a child is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Another charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child against Vowell was dismissed on Monday.

The offenses occurred at Vowell’s home in Electra in late 2018, and the case was investigated by the Texas Rangers.

Vowell was initially indicted on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child in April 2021, court records show. That charged was dismissed because he was re-indicted in June on three charges.

He was arrested again June 8 for the newly indicted charges and was freed June 11 from jail on $475,000 bail, according to jail records.