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A 50-year-old man pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and was sentenced to 30 years in prison just as his trial was about to begin, the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s office announced.
Luis Rangel entered his guilty plea on March 10 - one day after a jury was seated and moments before opening statements were set to begin. The three 30-year sentences will run concurrently.
Rangel was indicted in 2023 for sexually abusing his step-granddaughter over a period of years beginning when she was 7 years old. The child did not come forward until a delayed outcry in 2022. The three counts he pleaded guilty to cover acts that occurred in 2014, 2017 and 2020 and involve performing oral intercourse on the child while she slept.
Because the case was resolved through a guilty plea, the victim did not have to testify about the abuse she experienced. However, she was present in court for Rangel’s plea and sentencing, and was able to address him directly during the proceeding, speaking about the lasting trauma his actions have caused her.
The case was investigated by the Austin Police Department and the San Marcos Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Cassidy Story and Daniel Sakaida, with assistance from Sandra Groters, Avery Slocum, Zoie Sanders and Sergeant Investigator Robert Torres.
Story credited the jury pool with helping bring the case to a resolution without a full trial.
”Without their willingness to serve, a plea agreement would not have been reached,” Story said. “I would also like to thank the victim for her bravery, and we hope that the closing of this chapter will open one that leads to continued healing with the assurance that this man finally paid for the long-term damage he has done.”
