MISSION – A Mission man plead guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Institutional Division for aggravated sexual assault of a child.

A jury was selected and seated on Friday, May 27, 2022. On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, Julio Caesar Pena, 54, entered a plea of guilty in the 464^th District Court before the Honorable Judge Joe R. Ramirez.

The case was prosecuted by Special Crimes Division Chief Hope Palacios; with assistance by the Mission Police Department; Children’s Advocacy Center of Hidalgo and Starr Counties; and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

“It is up to all of us to protect our children and report suspected child abuse,” said Criminal District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. “I commend Chief Hope Palacios and our staff for obtaining a guilty plea and ensuring this suspect will never commit such a heinous act again.”

The victim, an extended family member, was 6 years old when the abuse occurred.