May 17, 2023, witnessed a significant legal victory for a survivor of child sexual abuse. Armando Ramirez, aged 36, was found guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child by a Montgomery County jury. The presiding Judge, Kathleen Hamilton of the 359th District Court, announced a 50-year prison sentence for Ramirez on May 18, 2023. Given the nature of the conviction, Ramirez is ineligible for parole.
Ramirez was accused of sexually abusing a female minor repeatedly from 2012 through 2020, the abuse commencing when the child was merely five years old. A medical practitioner in Texas was alerted to the situation when the child came forward, triggering the investigation into Ramirez. A year after his arrest and just days past the survivor’s 16th birthday, Ramirez was brought to trial, culminating in his conviction.
The jury had the daunting task of listening to the emotional testimony of the survivor, detailing multiple instances of sexual abuse by Ramirez in Killeen, Texas, as well as in Cut and Shoot, Texas. The court also heard from the survivor’s family, law enforcement representatives, and the forensic interviewer.
During the trial’s sentencing phase, Assistant District Attorneys Lianne Baldridge and Wes LeRouax urged Judge Hamilton to acknowledge the lasting effects this abuse has imparted on the survivor and to recognize Ramirez’s failure to assume responsibility for his actions.
Detective Shelby Yow from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigated this important case. Children’s Safe Harbor, the local Child Advocacy Center, played a crucial role in furnishing critical evidence and providing indispensable support to achieve justice for the survivor.
Prosecutor Lianne Baldridge: “We’re committed to a safer community for our children. While we can’t eliminate all abusers, we’ve ensured one fewer prowls our streets. This outcome was made possible thanks to Children’s Safe Harbor, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation, and the courage of a resilient child.”
District Attorney Brett Ligon: “Almost half of this young child’s life was tragically stolen by abuse. It’s only fitting that the defendant will now spend the bulk of his remaining years behind bars.”
