Jury Sentences Pedophile to Life in Prison

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX -- On Tuesday, November 14, 2023, Alejandro Arteaga was sentenced to life in
prison for sexually abusing a child under the age of six. Due to the nature of the charge, Arteaga will never be released from prison on parole.

Beginning Monday, November 13, 2023, Assistant District Attorney Ryan Fuller selected a jury to hear an aggravated sexual assault of a child case involving allegations of sexual abuse dating back to 2010. After an opening statement by Assistant District Attorney Frances Tommaso, the jury heard testimony from two victims, now nearing adulthood, who were sexually abused by Arteaga when they were younger than six. The jury also heard from expert witness Dr. Danielle Madera, who testified about the impact of sexual abuse on young children and childhood memory. Forensic Interviewer Mary Phillips and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department Detective Michael Lee provided the jury with details regarding the investigation in this case and the outcry made by the victim. After a very brief deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on the charged offense of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Because the victim was younger than six years of age at the time of the offense, Arteaga faced a punishment range of twenty-five years to life, without the possibility of parole. During the punishment phase, Assistant District Attorney Fuller and Assistant District Attorney Tommaso presented testimony regarding a prior felony conviction for theft and heard additional details from the victim about the struggles she overcame in coping with being a survivor of this intense crime and her determined journey toward justice. The jury deliberated for less than ten minutes before sentencing Arteaga to life in prison.

Prosecutor Ryan Fuller: “What Alejandro Arteaga did to young children in the dark has now been brought to light, thanks to the bravery of the survivors in this case. The jury sent an immediate, direct, and overwhelming message to him and anyone else who would abuse kids in our county. Do that, and this will be your fate. ”

Prosecutor Frances Tommaso: “We are so grateful for the jurors in this case. They listened closely, they followed the law, and they gave these victims the justice that was long delayed but inevitable in its arrival. We thank both them and the skilled investigators who made this possible.”

District Attorney Brett Ligon: "While I couldn’t be prouder of Ryan and Frances for bringing justice to these two victims, I hope the community realizes and appreciates how extraordinary these victims were. They looked him in the eye and took back the rest of their lives while he will spend his wasting away in prison.”