MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the "horrific abuse" of three children, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said Thursday.
Jurors sentenced Jose Antonio Pineda, 43, to life without parole after convicting him of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14.
“Jose Pineda earned every day of his life sentence. This jury has shown yet again that the citizens of Montgomery County will not tolerate those who abuse our children," Montgomery County DA Brett Ligon said.
Three children bravely testified about the abuse they endured for at least seven years. They said Pineda gave them alcohol before repeatedly sexually assaulting them. They told jurors about the struggles they faced because of Pineda's abuse and the lasting impact of keeping it secret for so long.
"Jose Pineda manipulated and abused these children for so long that they lived in a prison of silence and shame, so it is only fitting that they are finally free while he is locked away and can never hurt another child again," Assistant District Attorney Sara Corradi said.
"The jury sentence reinforced that it’s never too late to speak up about abuse and it’s never too late to bring those who hurt children to justice," Assistant District Attorney Carmen Morales said.
Child abuse resources & services
If you or someone you know is a victim of child abuse of any kind, there is help available. You can start by contacting one of these agencies or organizations.
- Children's Assessment Center 1-800-252-5400
- Childhelp 1-800-4-A-CHILD
- Houston Police Department Juvenile Division 713-731-5353
- Crime Stoppers of Houston 713-521-4600
You can also tell an adult you trust, such as a teacher, principal or school counselor.
