Sex offender gets life sentence in burglary of Denton home and assault of woman

A Denton sex offender who broke into a woman’s home and attacked her was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday, police said.

Paul Merritt, 74, was convicted of burglary of a dwelling, Denton County court records show. Police said he was also sentenced to 20 years in prison for failing to comply with his registration as a sex offender. Merritt was charged with aggravated assault, stalking and unlawful restraint, police said.

A The attorney listed for Merritt did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“From patrol officers to detectives, crime analysts to forensic scientists and everyone in between, every facet of our department came together to ensure the suspect was quickly apprehended,” Denton police officials said in a written statement.

On Nov. 18, 2022, a woman told authorities that a stranger broke into her home, attacked her and held her down for about two hours while threatening and stabbing her during a fight, police said . The man fled with her credit card and other items.

The woman, who police said had minor injuries, freed herself and called 911.

After reviewing surveillance video from the home, investigators identified Merritt as the suspect and he was arrested that afternoon. Police said his clothing matched that of the attacker in the video and he had scratches on his face consistent with a recent fight.

In a police interview, Merritt told investigators that he had seen the woman at a store two months earlier and followed her, watching her in her home several times and trying to gain entry before breaking in and attacking her, the police said Police with.

Investigators also discovered that Merritt, who was convicted of multiple sexual assaults, lived at a different address than the one where he registered as a sex offender, police said.