Tarrant County DA Secures Two Life Sentences and 55 Years in Four Child Abuse Prosecutions
FORT WORTH, Texas — The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office announced convictions and state prison sentences in four separate child sexual abuse and exploitation cases, resulting in two life sentences without parole and a combined 55 years of imprisonment for the remaining defendants.
The judicial outcomes, announced between late August and early September 2026, involved investigations conducted by the Fort Worth and Arlington Police Departments in coordination with state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies.
Life Without Parole for Repeat Offender David Lee Johnson
On August 20, 2026, a Tarrant County jury found 43-year-old David Lee Johnson guilty of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, resulting in a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Investigating officers with the Fort Worth Police Department established that Johnson sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl in October 2025, just three days after being released from prison where he had served time for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Prosecutors Sydney Brock and Olivia Stoner tried the case for the State.
International Extradition and Life Sentence for Tai Vaega
On August 25, 2026, 36-year-old Tai Vaega was convicted by a Tarrant County jury of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The investigation began in 2023 when a 14-year-old girl made an outcry stating that Vaega, a family member, had sexually assaulted her repeatedly starting when she was nine years old. Vaega fled to New Zealand in August 2024 to evade prosecution. Working alongside international authorities, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office secured his extradition, resulting in his capture in January 2025 and transport back to the United States. The case was investigated by Fort Worth Police, prosecuted by Brianna Bustamante and Courtney Mowdy, and supported by DA Investigator Kevin Hilliard and Victim Coordinator Carma Anderson.
15-Year Sentence Following Outcry in Joshua Washington Case
On August 26, 2026, 38-year-old Joshua Washington was found guilty by a jury of Indecency with a Child by Sexual Contact. The court subsequently sentenced Washington to 15 years in state prison.
The charge stemmed from a July 25, 2025, assault of a 13-year-old girl while she was visiting a friend's house. The victim made an immediate outcry to her mother, prompting an investigation by the Fort Worth Police Department. The case was prosecuted by David Tamez and Don MacQueen, assisted by Josh Conley, alongside DA Investigator Briant Thomas.
40-Year Term for Out-of-State Exploitation Defendant Casey Joseph Parr
On September 1, 2026, 29-year-old Casey Joseph Parr entered a guilty plea to Sexual Performance of a Child and was sentenced to 40 years in state prison.
An investigation by the Arlington Police Department determined that Parr, a registered sex offender, repeatedly contacted a 14-year-old girl in another state to solicit sexually explicit photos. While released on bond for that offense, Parr targeted a second out-of-state child with similar explicit demands. The case was prosecuted by Victoria Lydahl, supported by DA Investigator Tiffany Johnson and Victim Coordinator Christian Rangel.
