NEW BOSTON, Texas - A woman accused of accepting money in exchange for sex with a juvenile female relative is expected to face a jury this week in Bowie County.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning at the Bowie County courthouse in New Boston for Della Lou Griffin. Griffin, 53, is facing three counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Griffin came to the attention of authorities during a human trafficking investigation that led to a court-authorized search of a house in April 2018 on Meadow Lane in New Boston, Texas. Texas Department of Public Safety investigators were looking for evidence in a case involving the home's owner, John Littleton.
Littleton died before he could face trial on charges of child sexual abuse and human trafficking. Littleton's roommate, Charles Garton, 40, is currently serving a 160-year term for sexual abuse involving a 12-year-old. Another defendant, Kenneth Nelson, is serving five life sentences for human trafficking involving teen girls he traded cash and drugs for sex.
While searching Littleton's home, investigators discovered a videocassette tape labeled with a girl's name. The tape contained multiple recordings of Littleton sexually assaulting an obviously underage girl whom investigators were able to identify and interview.
Officers were able to date one of the recordings because a news report, playing in the background, announced that Lisa Marie Presley filed for divorce from Michael Jackson. That news was made public in January 1996, more than 23 years ago.
The woman, who was a 14-year-old girl when the recordings were made with Littleton, told investigators Littleton began molesting her when she was 11 after she was introduced to him by Griffin. Griffin is allegedly seen in some of the recordings and was allegedly operating the camera.
The woman told investigators Griffin often drove her to local motels and other locations where Littleton would pay Griffin so he could have sex with the girl. The woman reported that she was often given alcohol and drugs before and during the encounters.
Griffin is in Bowie County custody. She was arrested June 28 following a missed court appearance before Tidwell for a pre-indictment hearing in the case. At the time of her arrest, Griffin was allegedly in possession of a controlled substance. She faces a state jail felony charge in connection with that allegation.
Griffin has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is represented by the Bowie County Public Defender's Office. First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp and Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards are prosecuting.
Griffin faces two to 20 years in prison on each of the three sexual assault charges. Aggravated sexual assault of a child is punishable by five to 99 years or life in a Texas prison.