A Collin County jury sentenced Anthony Dewayne Taylor, 46, of Frisco to life in prison after finding him guilty of sexual performance of a child, according to the Collin County District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Greg Willis announced the sentence February 11. The district attorney’s office described Taylor as a “career criminal and confirmed gang member.” Court records show Taylor pleaded guilty to murder in Oklahoma in December 2024.
“This convicted murderer continued to prey on a child even from behind bars,” said Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis in a press release. “A Collin County jury saw the full picture and delivered the only sentence that protects the public and our children – life in prison.”
Drug Trafficking, Murder, Child Abuse
Oklahoma court records show Taylor pleaded guilty on January 11, 2019, in Blaine County to delivery of a controlled dangerous substance.
After being paroled in 2020, prosecutors said he reconnected with the victim’s family and gained access to her. Authorities said the abuse began when she was 14 and continued until she was 16 years old.
“This abuse occurred in multiple states and multiple cities across Texas,” the release reads.
Officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department arrested Taylor in October 2022 for allegedly shooting a man to death at a motel, according to KOKH.
While being held in Oklahoma awaiting trial on the murder charge, he made recorded phone calls to the victim, prosecutors said. During those calls, authorities said he directed the child to engage in lewd acts while she was in Collin County. Those calls formed the basis of the sexual performance charge.
Court proceedings show Taylor pleaded guilty to murder in December 2024 and received a sentence of 10 years in prison followed by 20 years of parole.
Seeking Justice
The girl told her family about the abuse in December 2022, and they reported this to the Frisco Police Department, according to the release. Staff interviewed her at the Children’s Advocacy Center, where she explained the abuse and calls with Taylor.
Frisco Detective Kim Pruitt found evidence at Taylor’s house supporting the girl’s description of abuse, and coordinated with the Oklahoma City Police Department to get the recorded calls from jail.
Court records show Taylor was convicted on January 30, 2026. He faced a punishment range of five to 99 years or life in prison due to his prior felony conviction.
While determining the sentence, prosecutors explained Taylor’s criminal history going back to 1999 and the details of his murder conviction. The jury eventually settled on life in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Judge Andrea Thompson presided over the case. Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Anthony D’Amore and Claire Mosley prosecuted the case, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Sarah Putman and Victim Assistance Coordinator Jill Moore. Court records indicate the case has been appealed.
