Court dates set for man facing sex abuse charge

Suspect accused of assaulting child

NEW BOSTON, Texas — A man charged with one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and three counts of sexual assault of a child is scheduled for a jury trial in June.

Paul Chapin, 52, of New Boston, has a court date Monday in Bowie County 202 District Court and a jury trial scheduled for June 6, according to court documents.

Chapin allegedly abused a young girl for years at residences in Maud and New Boston, Texas, according to court records. Chapin allegedly had access to a girl he is accused of sexually abusing from the age of 11 to age 17 because he lived with someone close to her, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The alleged victim reportedly told a forensic interviewer in another state that Sundays were the day when she felt safe because her family members were always at home that one day a week.

Chapin allegedly abused the girl from 2014 to 2019 during times when the adults in her family were working. The girl reported that Chapin would regularly abuse her before she left for school in the morning, according to reports.

Chapin was arrested in July 2021 by the New Boston Police Department. A Bowie County grand jury indicted him in October 2021.

If convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child, Chapin faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison with no opportunity for parole. If convicted of sexual assault of a child, Chapin faces two to 20 years in prison on each of three counts.

Chapin is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at $100,000. He is represented by the Bowie County Public Defender’s Office.