Baytown Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Child Molestation

A 62-year-old Baytown man, Jose Luis Pena, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the aggravated sexual assault of three girls, as announced by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.

Pena was convicted by a jury last week for the molestation of one girl in 1982 and two others beginning in 1998. The jury heard that he assaulted one girl once and another multiple times over a three-year period. The victims, now adults, reported the incidents to the Houston Police Department, triggering an investigation.

The investigation revealed that Pena also molested an 8-year-old in 1982 when he was approximately 19 years old.

District Attorney Kim Ogg commended law enforcement and prosecutors for their diligence in untangling the case. Ogg stated, “Hopefully, this man will never again be alone in the same room with a child and can never hurt anyone again.”

Following his conviction, Pena chose to be sentenced by the judge, who handed down a 50-year prison term. The trial, lasting four days, was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Wesley Stafford and Andrew Sanchez, both assigned to the DA’s Crimes Against Children Division.

Assistant District Attorney Stafford emphasized the significance of the victims coming forward, saying, “This case shows that it’s never too late to say what happened. These women have grown up, were able to tell their story, and testify against their abuser.”

Pena will be required to serve at least half of the 50-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.