A 49-year-old man from Kyle, Texas, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison following his conviction on several charges of child sexual abuse. Manuel Balderas, the defendant in the case, was found guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years old, sexual assault of a child, and indecency with a child. The guilty verdict and the subsequent sentence were reported by both MySA and FOX 7 Austin.
According to the information relayed by Hays County, Balderas committed these acts by having the children sit on his lap covered with blankets to conceal the abuse when others were present. The abuse reportedly started when the victims were in middle school and continued into their adulthood. A jury handed down the 40-year sentence on September 24, after finding Balderas guilty of the charges on September 23.
In the wake of the sentencing, Hays County Assistant Criminal District Attorney Katie Arnold expressed gratitude toward the victims and their families. "We would like to thank the victims and their supporting family members for the bravery and strength that it took to come forward and face their abuser in court," Arnold said in a statement obtained by MySA. Arnold later added, "The sentence in this case shows that child sexual abuse will not be tolerated in Hays County."
During the trial, it was revealed that the abuse was sometimes inflicted as punishment for various perceived infractions, such as poor academic performance, speaking with boys, or unauthorized use of technology. Balderas, who was out on bond before the conviction, saw his release revoked after the jury's verdict. He was taken into custody for the sentencing hearing from a jury. The adult victims, who endured the abuse during their formative years, personally testified against Balderas during the punishment phase of the trial, detailing the long-term impact of the sexual abuse on their lives.
