Anthony Allen Rae, 51, of London, England, was sentenced to prison for two Life sentences for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. The conviction follows a nearly week- long jury trial before a Grayson County Jury found the defendant guilty. The defendant was convicted of two count of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and one count of Indecency with a Child by Sexual Contact. The same jury also assessed his punishment at 20 years for Indecency with a Child by Sexual Contact. Judge Larry Phillips of the 59th District Court presided over the trial. Due to the aggravated nature of the offense, the defendant must serve half of his sentence before being considered for parole and must register as a sex offender for life.
In late 2003, the Van Alstyne Police Department began investigating allegations of child sexual abuse against Anthony Rae. The investigation eventually resulted in a Grayson County Grand Jury returning two separate indictments against the defendant for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Defendant was arrested and booked into the Grayson County Jail in October of 2003, but was released in June of 2004. While on bond and awaiting trial, the defendant failed to appear for court in November 2005. Warrants were issued for his arrest.
In late 2019, DA Investigator Don Tran, having served as a Task Force Officer (TFO) for both the US Marshals Service (USMS) and the Department of Homeland Security (HSI), began investigating the whereabouts of the defendant. Utilizing investigative techniques, Tran, in concert with H.S.I., located Defendant in the United Kingdom in the spring of 2020. As a result, the London Metropolitan Police arrested the defendant on April 22, 2020. Defendant was living in London under the alias Anthony Campbell.
In early 2021, four-day extradition hearing was conducted in the Westminster Court of London. The Court granted extradition, but Defendant waged a series of appeals to the British Supreme Court and the European Commission on Human Rights. The defendant, who had been on the run from law enforcement for nearly 20 years was extradited back to the United States on July 1, 2023.
The Grayson County Criminal District Attorney's Office presented nearly 14 witnesses and dozens of exhibits during the jury trial. Evidence included expert witnesses and the testimony of our victim, who is now an adult woman. The District Attorney's Office brought two witnesses in from Florida. Other witnesses traveled in from both Tyler and Beaumont, Texas. A significant portion of the trial focused on evidence of the defendant's flight from justice.
The Grayson County Criminal District Attorney's office recognizes the work of DA Investigator Don Tran, the United States Marshals Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the US Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, The International Justice and Organized Crime Division of the Crown Prosecution Service, the London Metropolitan Police, and the Van Alstyne Police Department for bringing the defendant to justice.
The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Brett Smith. Paralegal Sherri Williams, Assistant District Attorney Eli Brown, and DA Investigator Tim Murrin assisted in the prosecution.
