Former Chambers County Man Gets Double Life Sentences for Child Sexual Assault
ANAHUAC, TX — A Chambers County jury took just six minutes to convict a former resident of child sexual abuse, subsequently sentencing him to back-to-back life prison terms and assessing a symbolic fine matching the victim’s age, District Attorney Cheryl Lieck Henry announced.
Rudy Cortez was found guilty on two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child in the 344th District Court. Following the rapid guilty verdict, the jury sentenced Cortez to life in prison on both charges and ordered him to pay an exact fine of $888.88.
According to prosecutors, the number eight carries deep significance in this case, as it represents the victim’s age when Cortez sexually abused her.
“No Other Number But Life”
The trial was presided over by Judge Randy McDonald and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Mallory Vargas and Shaquita Jones. During closing arguments, Vargas told the jury that “there is no appropriate number or amount of time other than life” given the severity of the acts Cortez committed against the young girl.
The double-life sentence marks a historic professional milestone for ADA Vargas, representing her fifth consecutive life sentence secured at trial. Her recent prosecutorial streak includes two murder convictions, a continuous sexual abuse of a young child conviction, and an enhanced aggravated assault family violence conviction.
Following the sentencing, Chambers County District Attorney Cheryl Lieck Henry released a statement:
“There is no place for sexual abusers here, and this verdict sends exactly that message. I am also very grateful to the jury. You got it right.”
Collaborative Investigation Honored
District Attorney Henry commended the extensive teamwork required to secure the conviction, singling out several law enforcement officers, medical professionals, and child advocates who sacrificed personal time to support the victim:
- Detective Cynthia Chenevert (Chambers County Sheriff’s Office), who remained at trial to testify despite working with no sleep and navigating a personal emergency.
- Harris County Sheriff’s Office, which initially responded to the report and rapidly transferred the jurisdictional files to Chambers County.
- Courtney Woods, SANE-RN (Texas Children’s Hospital Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program), who gathered the critical forensic medical evidence.
- Yvette Del Rio (formerly of the Bridgehaven Children’s Advocacy Center), who assisted with child advocacy and crisis intervention.
