A 42-year-old man with a history of sex offenses was handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole for molesting a child, the Harris County District Attorney’s office confirmed. The convict, Manuel Enrique Arana Jr., was deemed a habitual offender having previously been convicted of sexually assaulting a minor.
Arana faced his latest conviction this week after being found guilty of continuous sexual assault on a child under 14. His criminal record, extending back to his teens, includes the assault of a 12-year-old and a separate domestic violence charge against a female family member. In a statement released by the DA’s Office, District Attorney Kim Ogg stressed, "He is a predator, and he will now spend the rest of his life in prison."
The case was brought to a close following a four-day trial where testimony revealed the repeated abuse that started when the victim was 7. The Houston Police Department spearheaded the investigation leading to Arana’s conviction. His pattern of noncompliance with sex offender registration requirements also surfaced during the proceedings, indicating a history of flouting legal restrictions placed upon him after prior convictions.
Assistant District Attorney Jayelle Lozoya and Danielle Oxford, Chief of the Crimes Against Children Division, prosecuted the case. In a poignant address during the trial, Lozoya implored the jury to understand the gravity of the defendant's history: "We asked the jurors to ‘Believe him when he shows you who he is,’ and they did just that. They believed he sexually assaulted yet another child, and for that, we are proud of them," the DA's office stated.
