Convicted Child Sex Offender Takes Plea Deal Allowing Him to Live with Children

SAN ANGELO, TX — Convicted child sex offender David Earl Bryant took a plea deal Tuesday which will allow him to live with his wife and several small children but not before the hearing was recessed so he could consult with his attorney.

Bryant was indicted by a grand jury on four counts including sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child by sexual contact and indecency with a child by exposure. All the charges stem from incidents from Aug. 2017.  Bryant was facing two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.  Bryant was on deferred adjudication probation for those charges when he committed another offense and the district attorney’s office filed a motion to revoke his probation.  Bryant was arrested in Nov. 2018 for possession of marijuana in Brown County and has been jailed since then.

Bryant had agreed to the plea deal which would place him on four years deferred adjudication probation.  He also would have to pay a $1,500 fine and register as a sex offender. Under the plea deal, Bryant was to have no contact with the victim and no contact with any children.  Bryant asked the judge if he could be around his biologic children and his step children.  Bryant hesitated and then asked the judge if he could consult with his attorney Todd Simons.   

After a brief pause in the hearing, Bryant said he would have to be allowed around children who weren’t his because his wife was living with someone who had children and that’s where he would have to live.  Judge Dusek said she would not allow him to do that.

Bryant then said he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea and asked for a speedy trial.  At that point, the judge told Bryant that the District Attorney’s office would seek to enhance the charges and he would be facing 5 to 99 years or life in prison.  Bryant again asked for time to consult with his attorney in private.  Bryant and Simons were escorted to a meeting room adjacent to the courtroom.  Judge Dusek heard another case and then brought Bryant and his attorney back into the courtroom and resumed the hearing.  Simons said Bryant had agreed to accept the plea deal.

Judge Dusek placed Bryant on four years deferred adjudication and he will have to register as a sex offender and pay a $1,500 fine.