Allen man who sexually assaulted immigrant sex worker given life sentence

Serial predator targeted sex workers, undocumented immigrants

A North Texas man will spend the rest of his life in jail after being convicted of sexually assaulting a sex worker in Plano, with reports he had done the same to other victims before. FOX 4's David Sentendrey has more.

COLLIN COUNTY, Texas - An Allen man will spend the rest of his life in prison after sexually assaulting a victim he targeted because of her immigrant status.

Life sentence given to serial rapist

What we know:

38-year-old Detaron Fenley received a life sentence in prison this week after being convicted of sexually assaulting a Plano woman in 2024. Fenley was originally arrested in Oct. 2024 on aggravated sexual assault with a deadly weapon.

The arrest affidavit states on Sept. 24, 2024, Fenley entered the victim's hotel room and held her at knifepoint. The victim told investigators Fenley grabbed her neck and began to assault her before trying to tie her up with tape, before continuing to assault her.

The victim lost consciousness and was left with a broken nose, swelling and bruising on her face. She told police that Fenley contacted the victim that morning online for escort services.

Fenley was arrested by Plano police after locating cell phone records and surveillance footage from the incident.

Prosecutors said Fenley targeted the victim because her status as an undocumented immigrant would make it less likely she would report the incident to police.

History of targeting undocumented sex workers

Dig deeper:

Prosecutors believe Fenley had half a dozen other victims, some of whom testified against him in the case. At the time of his arrest, police said he regularly communicated with sex workers on dating apps, whom they believe are undocumented immigrants.

Fenley has a history of arrests for assault, and records indicate he was previously a suspect in a separate sexual assault case that occurred in a similar manner.

In that case, the suspect contacted a woman through a dating app, forced his way into the victim's apartment, held the victim down and sexually assaulted her.

Fenley's DNA matched the suspect's in that case, but the victim would not cooperate with investigators.

"A dangerous sexual predator"

What they're saying:

FOX 4's David Sentendrey talked with Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis about Fenley's past as a serial predator.

"Well, this guy’s made it clear that he’s a dangerous sexual predator," Willis said. "On top of that, they heard and learned that he had raped three other women."

Prosecutors said prior to trial, Fenley told someone on a recorded prison line he thought he would not be found guilty.

"Because he didn’t think that she was going to come and testify against him," Collin County prosecutor Ashleigh Woodall said. "Because of her immigration status."

"He clearly told us who he was and what his next plans were," Woodall continued. "No question in my mind that he would’ve done it again."