Pedophile Robert Yancy Jr. serving a LIFE sentence for sexually abusing a child breaks out of Texas prison as officials launch manhunt to find convict

A convicted pedophile serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting a child has escaped from his Texas prison, prompting police to launch a manhunt.

Robert Yancy Jr., 39, was convicted by a Victoria County jury in 2022 of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl.

He was sentenced to life in prison without parole in June, according to the newspaper Victoria Lawyer.

He escaped from the Clemens Unit in Brazoria on Sunday around 3:30 p.m., officials said.

Yancy Jr. drove away with his mother in a white Nissan Versa with license plate DNR9145, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said in a statement.

It is unclear how Yancy escaped prison.

He was last seen wearing a black hat and black sweater.

Around 8:30 p.m., Yancy Jr.'s mother, Lenor Priestle, was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant, according to KXXV.

Both she and her son are believed to have left the province long before she was taken into custody.

His mother was driving the white Nissan Versa in question, suggesting that Yancy Jr. divorced her after she helped him escape.

Yancy Jr. escaped from the Clemens Unit in Brazoria on Sunday around 3:30 p.m., according to officials

Yancy Jr. drove away in a white Nissan Versa with license plate DNR9145, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said in a statement

Authorities said Priestle was the only occupant in the car when they arrested her.

The public has been warned Yancy Jr. not to approach him if they see him, but to call the authorities immediately.

According to a press release from Victoria County, Yancy Jr. abused. his victim over a three-year period beginning when the child was just seven years old.

Both the victim and her brother testified at a trial, with jurors reaching a verdict after just 23 minutes of deliberation.