Galveston man sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting long-time girlfriend

GALVESTON, Texas (KIAH) — A Texas City man was already on probation when he was accused of the unthinkable: sexually assaulting someone he had known for years. Now he’s going to prison for the crime.

Fabian Richard Lewis was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Thursday for sexually assaulting a longtime girlfriend in his home in 2020. Lewis, 57, was sentenced by the court after a jury found him guilty of sexual assault following a week-long trial interrupted by Hurricane Beryl. Lewis, who was 53 at the time of the assault, was already on probation for a 35-year sentence from a 1991 cocaine-related conviction.

In November 2020, Texas City police officers responded to Mainland Hospital, where they met the victim in the parking lot. She explained that Lewis, whom she had known for more than 30 years, had invited her to his home for drinks the night before. However, when she tried to leave, Lewis forcibly restrained her and sexually assaulted her, first in the driveway and again inside the house after dragging her inside. The victim was initially hesitant to press charges, but after further investigation, Lewis was charged with sexual assault, a second-degree felony.

The trial began July 2 in Galveston County Impact Court. The victim, a middle-aged woman, testified that she and Lewis dated when they were young, more than 25 years ago. She stated they renewed their friendship around 2017. Texas City Police Detective Brian Berg testified about text messages that came from Lewis’ phone after the assault. In the text messages, Lewis did not deny the assault, but pleaded with the victim not to report it to police. A friend of the victim testified that the victim told her about the assault immediately afterward.

The jury deliberated for about two to three hours before returning a guilty verdict Tuesday afternoon. Rather than proceed with the sentence, Lewis agreed to a 25-year prison sentence and waived his right to appeal. After the trial, Assistant District Attorney Ricque Davis said, “The victim testified that the defendant made her feel powerless during the attack. The verdict gave her that power back.”