Lone Star man gets 70 years for sexual assault, indecency

By John Dilmore
john@casscountynow.com

A Lone Star man was recently sentenced in Cass County District Court to a combined 70 years in prison after being found guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child, related to his conduct involving a nine-year-old boy.
Joshua Lee Bolton, 28, was sentenced by Judge Bill Miller to 50 years in prison on the charge of aggravated sexual assault, and to 10 years on each charge of indecency with a child, according to information released by the Cass County District Attorney’s Office. Miller ordered the sentences be served consecutively.
Bolton had been found guilty on May 11 after a jury of seven women and five men deliberated his fate for approximately two and a half hours, according to the DA’s office. The case was prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Courtney Shelton, who called its successful completion a team effort.
“I am extremely grateful to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory,” Shelton said. “I am also extremely proud of our victim for coming forward and testifying against this offender. Because of his bravery, it is highly unlikely that this defendant will have an opportunity to hurt another child.”
Witnesses testified during trial that Bolton had been a friend of the victim’s family. The victim testified that after the assault, Bolton made him “promise not to tell anyone,” according to information released by the DA’s office.
The victim’s clothing was collected as evidence in the case, and DNA analysis provided a link to Bolton, according to the DA’s office.
Bolton was represented by Texarkana attorneys Randle Smolarz and Kristian Robertson.