Rains sentenced to life in prison

A Graham man sentenced in July to 20 years in prison on a drug charge will now serve life in prison for a prostitution charge involving a victim under 18 years old. 

A four-day trial was held for Lee Marvin Rains, 56, of Graham, before being sentenced to life in prison in the Texas Division of Criminal Justice - Institutions Division (TDCJ-ID). Rains will be required to register as a sex offender.

The state was represented by the 90th Judicial District Attorney Dee Peavy and Assistant District Attorney Jamie Petruzzi. The victim was called to the stand by the state during the guilt, innocence phase of the trial.

Rains was indicted in March 2025 compelling prostitution under age 18 on or around December 2023. He was also indicted in July 2025 for another drug charge–delivery of a controlled substance fentanyl to a minor, a case still pending in Young County District Court.

The punishment phase of the trial was held Friday, Nov. 14 with witnesses called from the state and defense. Rains elected 90th Judicial District Court Judge Phillip Gregory to assess punishment rather than the jury.

The state presented evidence of Rains being a habitual offender, increasing the punishment range from a minimum of five years to a minimum of 25 years. The 90th Judicial District Court Judge sentenced Rains to life in prison.

“This case should serve as a warning to those who traffic children and illegal narcotics in the 90th Judicial District,” the district attorney’s office stated in a release. “Our community does not want you here and we will work tirelessly to put you away so that you cannot prey upon our children. This case should also alert everyone to the dangers of fentanyl. Fentanyl is in our community and it destroys lives.”

Rains was previously arrested for the offense of indecency with a child by sexual conduct in Taylor County and placed on 10 years deferred adjudication in June 2007. He was later adjudicated guilty in July 2010 and sentenced to four years in prison.

In 2011, a Young County jury found Rains not guilty of indecency with a child in 2009 following two days of testimony.

Rains was arrested Wednesday, Jan. 8 for driving while intoxicated - third or more, possession of a controlled substance, compelling prostitution of a victim under 18 years old and delivery of a controlled substance to a minor.

From May 2023 through January 2025, in Young, Tarrant and Palo Pinto counties, Rains distributed illegal controlled substances, such as methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Beginning in May 2023 and continuing through May 2024, Rains used illegal substances with the minor victim, including methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced Percocet. 

The drug use was in multiple locations including Rains’ home on Red Top Road in Graham and in his vehicle.

During that same period of time, Rains groomed the victim by communicating with them via Facebook Messenger, Snapchat and text messages. 

Rains would communicate with the victim on both his work phone and personal phone. 

Messages include multiple conversations regarding pills provided, taken, remaining and to be purchased between Rains and the victim.

Rains had told the victim that he would provide them with drugs if they stayed the night with him. He also offered to pay the victim through CashApp in exchange for sex on multiple occasions, with the victim stating that it was mostly in exchange for drugs.

The victim was left items by Rains in their mailbox, picked up by him on occasions and was sent explicit images by Rains via phone.

In April 2024, Rains was driving with the victim in the passenger seat when they were pulled over. Rains had driven the victim to Fort Worth to purchase illegal narcotics on this occasion, along with five other separate occasions.

Rains and the victim were arrested during the stop in April 2024 and charged with possession of a controlled substance. He bonded out of jail a day after being arrested and paid the bond for the victim to also be released.

The victim left with Rains, who represented himself as their uncle, and the two returned to his home to take drugs.

In July, he was sentenced to 20 years confinement in TDCJ-ID for the drug possession charge, and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, court costs and restitution. 

Following that sentencing, he remained an inmate of the Young County Jail for his appearance at trial in the case involving the prostitution charge. 

Along with his previous charge of indecency with a child from July 2010, Rains’ charge was enhanced due to a driving while intoxicated charge from April 2019.

Rains had been sentenced previously for a number of driving while intoxicated charges spanning from 2007 to 2016. 

On or around July 2007, Rains was arrested in Young County for indecent exposure and driving while intoxicated and was convicted in April 2008 to probation in both cases.

Rains picked up another driving while intoxicated charge in August 2007 in Quanah and was convicted in August 2008 and sentenced in Hardeman County Court. 

In September 2007, Rains was arrested for another driving while intoxicated charge in Iowa Park and was convicted in February 2008. Later that same month, he was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Wichita Falls and convicted in January 2008.

Rains was arrested for driving while intoxicated - third or more in January 2010 in Colleyville and was convicted in January 2012 in Tarrant County. He picked up another charge of driving while intoxicated - third or more in February 2016 in Mineral Wells and was convicted in April 2019 in Palo Pinto County.