A Texas woman has been arrested for allegedly delivering a child to a convicted doctor for repeated sexual abuse in exchange for prescription drugs.
Alicia Evonne Sanchez, 37, was taken into custody Wednesday on a charge of continuous sexual assault of a child under 14, according to authorities in Smith County. She is also known by the alias Alicia Evonne Seguin. The child involved was described only as being under 14 years old; investigators have not disclosed the youngster’s gender or Sanchez’s relationship to the victim.
Sanchez allegedly transported the child to the medical office of Kenneth Haygood, 56, in Tyler, Texas, on at least 10 separate occasions. She remained present in the room while the abuse occurred, according to the report. During the assaults, the child would cry and beg Haygood to stop, but was told, “This is what doctors do.”
The case came to light after the child disclosed the abuse to a counselor. The child reported that Haygood provided Sanchez with prescription medication, including Adderall, a stimulant commonly prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy. Sanchez allegedly told the child that the pills, which were given in a clear baggie, were “for people who couldn’t get them from their doctor.”
Sanchez now faces a potential sentence of up to 99 years or life in prison if convicted. Her arrest follows the earlier prosecution of Haygood, who is already incarcerated for sex crimes against patients.
Haygood, 56, is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence after reaching a plea agreement last September. He admitted to two counts of sexually assaulting two female patients. The deal resulted in the dismissal of six additional felony charges, including a count of sexually assaulting a child. Haygood also had a charge of practicing without a license dropped as part of the agreement; his medical license had been suspended in October 2023.
Assistant District Attorney Richard Vance, speaking at the time of Haygood’s plea, said the doctor “probably deserved more” than the eight-year sentence. Vance explained that the deal was approved to spare the doctor’s victims from having to “get up on the stand and talk about details nobody would ever want to talk about.” Haygood must register as a sex offender for life.
The original investigation into Haygood exposed a pattern of abuse perpetrated under the guise of medical care. His conviction involved multiple victims who were his patients, with the abuse occurring in his professional setting. The plea deal eliminated the need for trial testimony from those he assaulted, a trade-off that drew public criticism given the relatively lenient sentence.
Sanchez’s alleged role introduces a new dimension to the case, with prosecutors now pursuing charges against an adult who allegedly facilitated ongoing abuse of a minor for personal gain. The arrangement described by authorities suggests a calculated exchange: repeated access to the child in return for controlled substances.
The investigation remains active as authorities continue to examine the full scope of the crimes.