Derrick Bernard Harden Jr - Repeat Sex Offender - Baby Raper

• Conviction date: 12/20/2002
• AGG SEXUAL ASSAULT
• Offender's age at conviction: 15
• Victim Age: 8

A Taylor County grand jury on Thursday indicted a registered sex offender on a charge he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in October.

Derrick Bernard Harden Jr., 22, of Abilene, has spent time in a Texas Youth Commission facility in connection with another sexual assault. Harden’s name has alternately been spelled as “Hardin,” a public records search shows

Harden is accused of assaulting the girl Oct. 4 as she walked to the home of an acquaintance early that morning.

A man tried to get her attention by calling out to her, while the girl ignored him and tried to avoid him by continuing to walk, police said.

The man caught up to the girl, grabbed her and led her to a fence that was near a business on the northside of Abilene, where he then sexually assaulted her, police said.

The girl had seen Harden around her neighborhood, but did not know him, according to Reporter-News files.

According to court documents, the girl reported to police that she tried to fight off her attacker — whom she later identified as Harden in a photo lineup — but was overpowered.

Harden went to the girl’s home after she reported it to police and “acted in a threatening manner,” court documents show.

Sexual assault of a child is a first-degree felony, punishable by up to life in prison.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"

.........Sarah Tofte