Danny Ray Copeland,42

A 42-year old Longview man received a 40-year prison sentence on Friday after pleading guilty to three child abuse charges.

In the 115th Judicial District Court of Upshur County, Danny Ray Copeland, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault of a child, a first-degree felony, and received a 40-year sentence. On the second count of the indictment, he pleaded guilty and received a 10-year sentence.

On count three of the indictment, Copeland pleaded guilty to the indecency with a child, a second-degree felony, and received 10 years sentence. 

All three sentences will run concurrently. Copeland also is under indictment in Gregg County, and as part of Friday’s plea agreement, he will plead guilty to sexual performance of a child, a second-degree felony, and receive a 20-year prison sentence to run concurrently with his Upshur County sentences.

Copeland will not become eligible for parole until he completes one-half of his prison.

– Augusta Robinson