A Williamson County jury has effectively locked up 43-year-old Lester Ray Hood III for life, sentencing him to 130 years in prison after finding him guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
The judge ordered two separate prison terms, one for 60 years and another for 70 years, and stacked them back-to-back instead of allowing them to run at the same time. That consecutive setup ensures Hood will never walk free again.
As reported by CBS Austin, prosecutors told jurors that Hood repeatedly assaulted a 13-year-old girl between New Year’s Eve 2023 and the spring of 2024. The jury returned two punishment verdicts, and the court added a $10,000 fine for each conviction.
The case kicked off in April 2024 when the girl’s guardian uncovered inappropriate WhatsApp messages. Evidence at trial detailed an attack on New Year’s Eve while the child was staying with a family member in Austin, another assault at a Dallas–Fort Worth area hotel after Hood picked her up from school, and further incidents during spring break.
"Because of their hard work, and the incredible courage of this young survivor, a dangerous predator has been removed from our community," Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick said, according to CBS Austin.
Sentence And Legal Context
Under the Texas Penal Code, aggravated sexual assault is a first-degree felony that carries a possible sentence of five to 99 years or life in prison, plus a maximum fine of $10,000.
In Hood’s case, the judge did not cap the punishment at a single term. By ordering the 60-year and 70-year sentences to run consecutively, the court pushed the combined penalty to 130 years, which functions as a life sentence.
Aftermath And Registration
A conviction for aggravated sexual assault also triggers Texas sex offender laws. The Texas Department of Public Safety notes that offenses of this kind, especially those involving children or multiple reportable convictions, can require lifetime registration and reporting.
Those rules translate into long-term verification and reporting obligations if an offender is ever released into the community.
The prosecution unfolded in Williamson County, where officials credited both the jury’s careful review of the evidence and the survivor’s testimony for the outcome. Court records and local filings will document any future appeals or additional proceedings tied to Hood’s conviction and sentence.
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