Woman charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child

Tyler — A Lindale woman was being held on a $3 million bond in the Smith County Jail following her arrest on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than 14, according to local reports.

The woman was booked into the Smith County Jail on Wednesday, Sept. 30. She is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a young child, a first-degree felony under Texas law. She has been charged but has not been convicted.

According to an arrest-warrant affidavit, investigators allege the woman repeatedly brought a child younger than 14 to the Tyler medical office of former physician Kenneth Donald Haygood between March 2019 and August 2023.

Allegations detailed

KLTV and KETK reported, citing court documents, that the investigation began after the child disclosed the allegations to another adult and a counselor. The child reportedly told investigators that the woman took them to Haygood’s clinic multiple times a month.

According to the affidavit-based reports, the child alleged Haygood sexually assaulted them in exam rooms while the woman remained present. The child said they cried and asked Haygood to stop but were ignored or told, “This is what doctors do.”

Investigators allege the woman brought the child to Haygood’s office in exchange for prescription medication. The child reported that Haygood gave the woman Adderall pills after the alleged assaults and that the woman placed the pills in a clear baggie.

Haygood allegedly diagnosed the child with ADHD and prescribed Adderall in the child’s name. Investigators alleged the woman rarely gave the medication to the child and may have retained it for her own use or resale.

Court proceedings

If convicted, the woman faces a sentence of 25 years to 99 years or life in prison under Texas Penal Code §21.02.

Haygood, 56, had his Texas medical license suspended by the Texas Medical Board on Oct. 24, 2023, after the board said he violated an earlier order restricting him from seeing or treating female patients.

In September 2025, Haygood was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual-assault charges in a separate case. 

This article was created with artificial intelligence and edited by staff.