Princeton Father Pleaded Guilty, Sentenced to Life for Beating, Starving Six Children

Kevin Dixon, 28, of Princeton was sentenced to lengthy prison terms after pleading guilty to seven counts of Injury to a Child Causing Serious Bodily Injury for repeatedly beating and starving his six young children, leaving permanent scars and severe malnutrition among the siblings, prosecutors said.

Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced the punishment following a hearing before District Judge Kim Laseter and described the sentence in detailed court filings on Feb. 18, 2026. The DA’s office says the court imposed life in prison on each of the five counts alleging physical abuse and 25 years on the two counts alleging malnourishment; because Dixon has a prior 2015 robbery conviction, he faced statutory exposure of 15 to 99 years or life on each count. “This father brutally beat and starved his own young children, some toddlers, leaving permanent scars and lasting trauma. A tough sentence like life in prison is what it takes to protect vulnerable kids and ensure those who inflict such harm face full accountability. My office will always stand up for children who can’t defend themselves,” Willis said. The DA’s release added, “This life sentence ensures Dixon will never again be able to harm his children or any others.”

State child-protection records and local investigators trace the case back years. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services first flagged inadequate living conditions and warned Dixon about excessive discipline methods in 2021. During a DFPS revisit in February 2025, investigators found five of the children severely malnourished and “weighed far less than normal for their ages,” and officers with the Princeton Police Department opened a criminal investigation after observing the children’s condition.

The six children, all younger than 10 with the youngest age 2, were forensically interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, where prosecutors say each child detailed repeated physical abuse and severe neglect. Detective Carolyn Crawford documented extensive marks and permanent scars on each child, and the children described being deprived of food and struck repeatedly with belts and cords; prosecutors noted one child was beaten for taking a candy bar.

Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Jean-Marie Anderson and Wendy Correa prosecuted the case with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Greg Bowers, the DA’s office reported. Court filings presented evidence of Dixon’s 2015 robbery conviction during the punishment hearing. Reports of the sentencing did not identify Dixon’s defense counsel, and the official court record included in the DA’s public materials did not specify whether the life and 25-year terms will run concurrently or consecutively.

The Collin County Criminal District Attorney’s Office published the sentencing announcement on its Facebook page, where the post registered 83 reactions and 23 shares while comments were limited by the office. Local officials have not released additional public details about the children’s current placements or medical status in the days following the Feb. 18, 2026 sentencing.