Sugar Land Man Who Stabbed Infant Son Gets 80 Years

Anthony Scott Gilbert has been sentenced to a combined 80 years in prison after sexually assaulting a teenage student at the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District’s Terry High School, where he was a teacher, then attempting to kill his wife and infant son, stabbing the baby seven times in the chest and neck.

Gilbert

The 38-year-old Sugar Land man pleaded guilty to five felony indictments in February, but asked the court to decide his fate after evaluating a personal history prepared by the probation department.

According to Assistant District Attorney Michael Hartman, a 16-year-old at Terry High School disclosed that she had sex with Gilbert, a teacher at her school, in October of 2009.  The disclosure was relayed to school authorities and an investigation ensued by the Rosenberg Police Department.

After refusing to speak to school authorities, Gilbert was referred for suspension.  That same night, Oct. 22, he stabbed his one week old son seven times in the chest and neck.  The defendant then attempted to suffocate his wife – holding her at knife-point throughout the night.  Gilbert also allegedly choked his two year old daughter to the point blood vessels burst on her face, but that could not be confirmed due to the child’s age.  Gilbert’s wife escaped with the children early the next morning, fleeing to a local hospital where she called police.    

Sugar Land SWAT units went to Gilbert’s apartment, and were unable to get him to come to the door. A stand-off ensued, which was ended shortly after noon when police entered the apartment after throwing gas canisters inside. Gilbert was taken by Life Flight to the medical center for self-inflicted wounds.

“Jennifer Gilbert displayed remarkable courage and persistence in fighting off Anthony Gilbert’s attack and escaping with her children,” said prosecutor Michael Hartman.  “This defendant has repeatedly abused the trust placed in him by his wife, his children, the school and its students, just to fulfill his selfish desires.  He must now face the consequences of his actions.”

Gilbert was sentenced to 50 years for stabbing his son, 10 years for holding his family hostage, 10 years for attacking his wife with a knife, and five years each for taking advantage of his professional relationship with a student and then sexually assaulting her.  The sentences will all be served at the same time.

“The dedicated police work by Sugar Land Detectives Bart Grider and Nancy Madrid and Rosenberg Detective Phil Burch made these quality cases and shouldn’t go unrecognized,” said prosecutor Lisa Gregg.  “Our communities should be proud of these hard-working men and women.”

Gilbert was probation eligible, but will now serve at least 25 years in prison before he can be considered for parole. Assistant District Attorneys Michael L. Hartman and Lisa P. Gregg prosecuted the case.  Attorney J. Sydney Crowley represented the defendant.