Louis Lopez, 38, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child (a child under 14 years old) and 20 years in prison for Sexual Assault of a Child (a child under 17 years old). In August of 2022, a victim found out she was pregnant after feeling ill. Detectives from Pleasanton Police Department began working the sexual assault case with the Children’s Alliance of South Texas, and discovered that Lopez was the father. While investigating the case, a second outcry from another child, was made. She outcried that the defendant began abusing her when she was 7 years old. Lopez pled to a cap of 20 years on the Sexual Assault of a Child charge, the maximum under the law, and pled to a cap of 35 years for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child for the second victim. After considering the facts and the testimony of the one victim's parents, Judge Russell Wilson sentenced the defendant to 20 years for the Sexual Assault of a Child and 35 years for the Aggravated Sexual Assault charge plus a $10,000 fine on each case. Judge Wilson also granted lifetime protective orders for each of the victims in this case. One of the victims suffers from mental illness, and this plea bargain protected both victims from the stress of testifying and being cross-examined and guaranteed a conviction. As part of the plea, the defendant was required to waive all appeals. We hope the children can close this chapter and continue the healing process while knowing they will be safe from Lopez. Thank you to Brittany Ibara from the probation department for preparing the presentence investigation report, Children’s Alliance of South Texas for their forensic interviews of the children, and Lt. Jordan Harren of Pleasanton PD for his investigation. I am grateful to my Asst. DA Ryan Wright for seeing that justice was served.
ATASCOSA MAN GIVEN 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING HIS WIFE
On January 29, 2024, Alejandro Contero, 79, was sentenced by Judge Russell Wilson to 30 years in prison for Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon Causing Serious Bodily Injury to Family Member, a first-degree felony. On October 18, 2022, Contero shot his wife of 56 years three times because she hadn’t prepared his meal. Contero confessed immediately and disabled his weapon. Contero pled guilty to the offense on November 27, 2023 with an agreement that punishment would be capped at 40 years. At the sentencing hearing, a family member testified to Contero’s temper and poor treatment of the victim and other family members throughout their lives. The victim prepared a statement presented through the Pre-Sentence Investigation outlining the abuse throughout their marriage. Because of the dedication of the family, Poteet Police Department, Texas Ranger John Lingle, Asst. DA Erika Price, Victim Advocate Katie Quinney, and Probation Officer Logan Morse who prepared the PSI, Mr. Contero's reign of abuse over his wife is over.
WILSON COUNTY DRUG DEALER GETS 8 YEARS IN PRISON
In a continuing effort by our office to get drug dealers off the streets, Nicholas Bosell-Maples, age 29, was sentenced by the Hon. Russell Wilson on January 24, 2024, to 8 years in prison for Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance between 1 and 4 grams.
Bosell-Maples, having been indicted on two separate charges of delivery of methamphetamine, sought mercy from the court and asked for deferred probation. However, we sought a prison sentence for dealing drugs more than once in Wilson County. While it continues to show the value of our prosecutors with the Border Prosecution Unit (BPU), dedicated to drugs, human smuggling, and gang violence, we extend a special thank you to Wilson County Sheriff’s Office for its continuing efforts to combat the drug trade in Wilson County. Thank you, BPU Prosecutor Cackie Hayes for your work on this case and all other BPU cases!
WILSON COUNTY MAN GIVEN 16 YEARS IN PRISON FOR INDECENCY WITH A CHILD
On October 19, 2023, 64-year-old Virgil Riley pled guilty to Indecency of a Child by contact and elected for the Court to assess punishment. On January 24, 2024, Riley asked the Court to be placed on deferred probation because of his age. Based on the facts and circumstances of the case, our office asked for 20 years in prison. After hearing testimony and evidence from witnesses, including the victim, the Honorable Russell Wilson sentenced the defendant to 16 years in prison. The victim bravely came forward when she was 13 about the abuse from when she was younger. The courage of the victim, with the work of Children's Alliance of South Texas, A Child Advocacy Center, Children's Hospital of San Antonio, and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, and work of prosecutors Lorena Whitney and Marc Ledet helped to provide some justice for our victim.
WILSON COUNTY - RODOLFO RUIZ SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ON PUBLIC SERVANT
Rodolfo Ruiz led multiple law enforcement agencies on a lengthy chase while they were attempting to apprehend him for stealing a truck. Ruiz traveled at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour and crashed into the officers trying to apprehend him. Officers were able to box in Ruiz during the crash and because he refused to surrender, he had to be dragged out of the stolen truck. Based on this evidence, on December 5, 2023, a Wilson County jury found Rodolfo Ruiz guilty of Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant, Evading Arrest with a Vehicle, and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Ruiz requested the judge assess his punishment. On January 10th, after a contested punishment hearing, the Honorable Judge Jennifer Dillingham sentenced Ruiz to 20 years incarceration for Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant, 10 years for Evading with a Vehicle, and 2 years state jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.
We are thankful to the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and Floresville Police Department for their successful takedown of this offender in a very dangerous situation without injuring civilians or officers. Special thanks go to Sergeant Jeff Roser, Deputies Harold Rios, Toby Garcia and Damion Aguilar, and FPD Officer Kevin Pena. Their hard work and collaboration with Asst. DAs Marc Ledet and Lorena Whitney in preparing for trial and punishment secured a just result.
District Attorney Audrey Louis Elected as the 2024 Chair of Texas' Special Prosecution Unit
With the start of 2024, I am honored to begin my new position as Chair for the Special Prosecutions Unit (SPU) of Texas. SPU serves a vital function for our 81st Judicial District. SPU is a statewide office that assists district and county attorneys in prosecuting crimes in prisons and juvenile facilities across Texas and the civil commitment of sexually violent predators. With 3 TDCJ (prison) units in our district, the SPU provides a tremendous service to our district by prosecuting all crimes that happen behind prison walls (some of which are very violent and heinous), saving our office the additional resources these prosecutions require. I have proudly served on the board of SPU since taking office in 2017, and I am honored to serve as the 2024 Chair of SPU.
MAN WITH OVER 500 IMAGES OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY RECEIVES 60 YEARS
Derrick Wilson was discovered trading child pornography images through a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Sgt. Cody Sartor from the Texas Attorney General’s Office followed up on the tip and after identifying Wilson discovered over 500 images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
Derrick Wilson pled guilty to one count of sexual performance of a child and two counts of possession with intent to promote child pornography. The plea bargain called Wilson to be sentenced to the maximum allowed under the law, 20 years, and allowed for prosecutors to argue that the sentences should be stacked. Assistant District Attorney Erika Price argued that the only effective way to protect our community from future danger was to ensure that Wilson was behind bars. Hon. Judge Jennifer Dillingham sentenced Wilson to a combined total of 60 years. Sgt. Sartor testified that Wilson was also directing children in other states to create videos and send them to him. We thank the hard work of the Texas Attorney General’s Office on these difficult cases along with Adult Probation unit for preparing the presentence investigation report. Our office remains committed to fighting for child abuse victims.
Family tragedy leads to life sentence
FRIO COUNTY MAN GETS 20 YEARS FOR AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD
On December 7, 2023, the Honorable Judge Russell Wilson sentenced Zachary Rey Sambrano to 20 years in prison for the offense of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child.
In the summer of 2021, the 12 year old victim was spending a few weeks with the defendant prior to going back home to start the new school year. The night of the sexual assault, the defendant came into the bedroom where the victim was sleeping and took off her shorts and his shorts and got on top of her and proceeded to sexually assault her. Once the defendant left the room, the victim immediately outcried to another adult who was in the home asleep. The police were called, as well as the child’s mother, who immediately drove several hours to pick up the victim. The defendant was questioned by police, where he admitted to the sexual assault.
Although this defendant deserved many more years in prison, this sentence was reached by discussing this with the victim and her family and taking into account how traumatic testifying in court would be for her. We ensured justice was served and we made every effort not to revictimize her.
We would like to thank the hard work of the Dilley Police Department and our partners at the Children’s Alliance of South Texas. We would also like to thank our First Assistant District Attorney, Leslie Carranza for her continued dedication to the youngest and most vulnerable of our victims.
Domestic Abuse Defendant Sentenced in Atascosa County to 40 and 15 years in Prison
Rene Monreal entered a plea to 15 years prison on Sexual Assault and requested sentencing from the judge from 5 to a maximum of 40 years on Aggravated Kidnapping. Following a presentence investigation, the court held a hearing to determine the appropriate sentence on the Aggravated Kidnapping charge. The victim, Mr. Monreal’s former wife, testified to previous instances of violence in their relationship and threats made to herself, her family members, and Safer Path Family Violence Shelter. She testified as to how the events of that evening have had a lasting impact on her and her children who were present during the commission of the offenses. The defense requested a 15 year sentence to track with his plea on the other charge. The State argued for the 40 year maximum. Following the hearing, Judge Russell Wilson sentenced Mr. Monreal to 15 years as agreed upon to the Sexual Assault and 40 years on the Aggravated Kidnapping, the maximum possible under the terms of the plea agreement. Monreal will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence. This would not have been possible without the hard work of the Poteet Police Department, including former Officer Marissa Cedillo, Cpl. William Permenter, and Lt. Noe Rodriguez. The Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office was also very involved in helping out victim and her family, Sgt. Investigator Albert Garza in particular. We also extend our gratitude to the staff at Safer Path for their dedication to serving survivors of domestic violence, and Sarah Barrera with adult probation for her thorough work on the presentence investigation for the court. I am proud of the hard work and dedication of Erika Price and Ryan Wright in seeing that justice was served, and victim assistance coordinator Katie Quinney for helping our victim through the difficult process of our criminal justice system.
