Molina sentenced to 68 years in prison on 6 counts of Possession of Child Pornography ordered to run consecutively, effectively sentencing Molina to 408 years in prison

Molina’s actions first came to light in 2020 when two young women bravely came forward to law enforcement after discovering disturbing text messages on their relative’s phone. The text messages between Molina and his then-girlfriend included graphic sexual language involving a 10-year-old girl and sending sexual pictures of the child. The Atascosa County Sheriff's Office acted quickly to have the children at the house interviewed by the child advocacy center and investigators interviewed the defendant. While interviewing the defendant, Sgt. Albert Garza and Cpt. Max Peralta seized Molina’s cell phone. During a search of the phone, investigators discovered other images of child pornography.

Prosecutors worked diligently with cell phone forensic investigators at the Atascosa County Attorney’s Office, Sgt. Garza with the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office, child exploitation investigators at the Texas Attorney General’s Office, forensic interviewers with the Children’s Alliance of South Texas, and Doctor Lara Spiller at Children’s Hospital of San Antonio to prosecute the case. The case was tried before a jury who returned a verdict of guilty in less than 15 minutes. This sent a clear message that Atascosa County has no tolerance for these crimes. A sentencing hearing was held on 7/24/24. Prosecutors proved that Molina was a habitual offender, which enhanced his punishment from 2-10 years in prison to 25-99 years or life on each count. Two witnesses also testified that Molina had sexually abused them when they were 11-12 years old while living in Dallas. The Honorable Judge Dillingham sentenced Molina to 68 years on each of the 6 counts of Possession of Child Pornography, and ordered the sentences to run consecutively or ‘stacked.’ Our office is grateful for the dedication and hard work of the above agencies in seeing that child abuse is prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. Prosecutors Ryan Wright and Erika Price should be commended for their aggressive prosecution. Child Pornography is more than just images; it is documented child abuse. Molina’s prior criminal history allowed a sentence more fitting for the crime and will ensure he is never outside of the prison walls again. This sentence sends a resounding statement about our community’s and office’s response to such heinous acts.

Montoya Sentenced to Life for Double Murder

https://www.pleasantonexpress.com/articles/montoya-sentenced-to-life-for-double-murder/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGgbm5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQqkm5QxKRFn8wAmRovTzxYzmb-5RD3iZxffaMFD_U8sXkX_NbR5xfO8YA_aem_oCHy5i3ZmEFcTglGbOVfYw

Resolving this capital murder case and getting justice for the families of Laura West and Mary Heinz close to the one year anniversary of their heinous murders was only possible because of the cooperation and teamwork between the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office and our office.

ATASCOSA COUNTY MURDERER PLEADS and AGREES TO SERVE 40 YEARS

Today, justice has come for Ricky Bernal Jr. (pictured) and his family. On August the 19th, 2023, Bernal’s grandmother heard a single gunshot come from outside. She went outside to find Bernal lying on the front porch. She had just seen him about 15 minutes prior. Bernal died from a single gunshot wound. Though there were no suspects on scene, the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office began their investigation. Investigators reviewed surveillance video that captured the murder from a distance. Reviewing phone forensic evidence led the investigators to Joseph Saiz, an acquaintance of Bernal. Investigators began their hunt for Saiz which lead them to the Comal County Jail. Saiz made incriminating statements during his interview but also tried to distance himself from the murder. During the investigation, another witness was located which confirmed that Saiz was the one who killed Bernal. After consulting with our office, the Sheriff’s Office obtained arrest warrants for the defendant.

Today, Saiz pled to 40 years in prison. He will have to serve half of the time, 20 years, before he is eligible for parole. Saiz killed Ricky in cold blood, cowardly fled the scene, and left his son without a father. Saiz deserves nothing less than the full 40 years of punishment he agreed to serve.

Sgt. Inv. Stephen Wilson, Captain Max Peralta, and other investigators with the Atascosa County Sheriff's Office did an excellent job in their relentless pursuit of this criminal. I am grateful for the dedication and hard work of Assistant DAs Ryan Wright and Erica Price for ensuring justice for Ricky Bernal, Jr. and his heartbroken family he was taken from too soon.

Karnes County Man Sentenced to 40 years on Aggravated Sexual Assault of Child

On January 19, 2023, the defendant, Charles Cisneros, walked into the Karnes County Sheriff’s Office and confessed to molesting his step-daughter while being married to her mother. The victim suffered years of unimaginable trauma and abuse at the hands of this defendant but bravely told the forensic interviewer at the Children’s Alliance of South Texas, Child Advocacy Center about the nightmare she had endured.

On May 6, 2024, the defendant pled guilty to a cap of 40 years in prison to Aggravated Sexual Assault. With this plea agreement, the child did not have to testify and relive her trauma and the defendant also waived his right to appeal. While the victim’s mother was unaware of the abuse of her child, she bravely testified at the sentencing hearing. On June 11, 2024, after reviewing the Pre-Sentence Investigation Report prepared by the Karnes County Probation Office and hearing argument from ADA Vasquez, the Honorable Judge Dillingham sentenced the defendant to 40 years in prison. The victim in the case also wrote a powerful letter that the Judge was able to read and consider for sentencing. The defendant will have to serve at least 20 years before being eligible for parole.

Thank you to Karnes County Investigator Chad Adams, Probation Unit Manager Veronica Garza and Assistant District Attorney Audrey Vasquez for ensuring that justice for our victim and protecting the community. Hopefully now, our brave and courageous victim can get the closure she truly deserves. We thank her for her bravery!

WILSON COUNTY JURY FINDS SANTIAGO MATA GUILTY OF AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEXUAL ASSAULT, and PROHIBITED SEXUAL CONDUCT with a DESCENDANT and SENTENCED HIM TO 70 YEARS and the MAXIMUM 20 YEARS

After hearing the courageous testimony of our the victim, the jury convicted and sentenced Santiago Mata to 70 years on two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. The jury also assessed the maximum punishment of 20 years on the remaining 7 counts (3 counts sexual assault of a child under 17, 2 counts of sexual assault, and 2 counts of Prohibited Sexual Conduct with a Descendant). The victim endured sexual acts from the age of 10 to 26 years old. The Honorable Russell Wilson stacked one of the sexual assault. This means the defendant must serve at least 40 years in prison before he is eligible to be considered for parole. The defendant is 61 years old. The jury, ADAs Marc Ledet and Lorena Whitney, Wilson County Sheriff Investigators Jack Derby, Lt. Joseph Dubs, Inv. Daria Fowler, and Deputy Joseph Martinez should all be commended as the first people to ever fight for our victim and show her that there is some good in this world. Her courage to come forward and tell the truth about everything she suffered will prevent Mata from harming any other children or women. In her victim impact statement, the victim stated that the years Mata received reflect all the tears she has cried. Justice served.

MAN SENTENCED TO 32 YEARS FOR CHARGING PLEASANTON POLICE OFFICER WITH A HAMMER and 20 YEARS FOR PUNCHING A CHILD

Within only weeks of his release from prison (and while on parole) for Aggravated Assault, Gregory Mendez, out of nowhere punched an 11-year-old who was visiting another child at his home. Mendez' mother tried to stop him, and he assaulted her as well. Other family members tried to intervene, and Mendez pulled a knife and threatened them, then fled on foot. Pleasanton Police Department arrived and began searching for Mendez. When he was found hiding behind a shed, instead of surrendering to officers, he charged Pleasanton PD Officer Bernal with a hammer. Officer Bernal tased Mendez, but it was ineffective. Officer Bernal then shot Mendez, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Mendez is a repeat offender and pled guilty to a cap of 35 years in prison on the Aggravated Assault and open to the court on the Injury to a Child, which was enhanced because of his prior conviction to a second degree felony with a punishment range of 2 to 20 years in prison. 81st Judicial District Judge Dillingham, after hearing all the evidence, sentenced Mendez to 32 years for the Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant and 20 years for the Injury to a Child (the maximum under the law).

We are grateful for the response of all the officers, in particular Officer Bernal for taking this dangerous individual off our streets. Thank you to Assistant District Attorney Ryan Wright for ensuring our community is protected by aggressively prosecuting this case. Mendez is eligible for parole once half of his sentence is served. Given Mendez' conduct after being granted parole only weeks earlier and his prior criminal history, we are hopeful the parole board will keep Mendez behind bars where he belongs for his full sentence!

KARNES COUNTY - MAN PLEADS TO 35 YEARS FOR AGGRAVATED ROBBERY

Thomas Ragsdale pled to 35 years in prison for his role in the Aggravated Robbery at the KC Food Mart in Kenedy. His plea prevented the victims from having to testify in trial, and required Ragsdale to waive his right to appeal. Thank you to Det. Barrientez and all the Kenedy PD officers for their hard work in solving this case. Thank you to Asst. DA Audrey Vasquez for ensuring justice is served. The streets are safer with Ragsdale behind bars. Ragsdale must serve at least half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

WILSON COUNTY JURY HANDS DOWN 90 YEAR SENTENCE TO CHILD MOLESTER

After a four day trial, a Wilson County jury found Esteban San Miguel guilty of Sexual Assault of a Child and Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Through the bravery of the victim and her family, my office was able to put on evidence which showed the jury that he had preyed upon a minor over who he was placed in a position of trust. After a long deliberation in both guilt/innocence and punishment, the jury sentenced the defendant to a maximum of 20 years on the Sexual Assault and 90 years on the Aggravated Sexual Assault, plus a maximum fine of $10,000 in each count. We would like to thank the hard work of the jury in their deliberations and providing justice for our victim, and of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, especially Investigator Daria Fowler and Deputy Jimmy Fitz. We hope this sentence serves as a manner of closure and peace for our victim and a warning to those who would seek to prey upon our children.

ATASCOSA MAN SENTENCED TO 35 & 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO MINORS

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.