Zapata Man Gets Eight Years in Touching Case
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Sep 28, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy Monica Garcia,
The Office of District Attorney Isidro R. Alaniz reports that it took a Zapata jury less than an hour yesterday to sentence Samuel Herrera to eight years to serve in prison and a ten thousand dollar fine for touching an eight year old child’s genitals.
Chief Prosecutor for Zapata County, Mr. Pete Garza, prosecuted the case in which Herrera was accused of having touched a child’s genitals on August 4, 2010. After an extensive investigation and numerous examinations and sessions at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Laredo, the Multi-Disciplinary Team at the Advocacy Center determined there was sufficient evidence to arrest Herrera.
Jury selection took place on Monday, September 26th. The following day the defendant pled guilty, which was most likely due to the prevailing evidence gathered by the Zapata Sheriff’s investigators, including a confession.
Because of the guilty plea, the trial went straight into the punishment phase with the victim, the Sheriff’s detective, a CPS worker and child psychologist, Dr. Gregorio Pina. Defense witnesses included the defendant himself and two character witnesses.
During closing arguments, Chief Prosecutor Pete Garza, told the jurors that they were sending a message to the community that this sort of crime will not be tolerated. “Children will know that they will be heard and predators will know that probation is not an option.”
Herrera will serve eight years in prison and pay a ten thousand dollar fine.
