News Flash

A convicted sex offender received a total of eight life sentences after he was convicted on charges he sexually assaulted a child and filmed it.

A Bexar County jury found Jose Trinidad Gonzalez, 36, guilty Friday in the 226^th District Court. Gonzalez was accused of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old child in 2017. The victim’s mother discovered video recordings of the crimes on a tablet used by the child to play video games, but owned by Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was also found guilty of violation of sex offender registration, due to his failure to register his address with law enforcement, which was a requirement of his 2002 conviction for sexual assault. That sentence required him to register as a sex offender. Gonzalez also had a 2002 conviction for aggravated kidnapping.

As a result of the 2002 convictions, the aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by contact punishment ranges of are elevated. Upon conviction in this case, automatic life sentences are granted. The District Attorney’s Office filed a motion requesting that the sentences be served consecutively (stacked). Judge Velia Meza agreed to the request. In addition, Gonzalez was sentenced to the maximum punishment allowed for the remaining charges, which included four life sentences (concurrent) and three 20-year sentences. Gonzalez must serve 140 years before he can be considered for parole. Judge Meza also assessed a $10,000 fine for each of the automatic life sentences.

The case was investigated by the San Antonio Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Karl Alexander and Melissa Saenz.