CALDWELL MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD

  

A Caldwell man convicted of sexual assault of a child has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

30-year-old Raul Requena-Castaneda was convicted on four counts of sexual assault of a child Friday morning. He was sentenced later that day to 10 years of confinement on each count, to run concurrently.

Castaneda was also fined $2,500.

Castaneda was arrested after an investigation by the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office.

In April 2014, a 14-year-old girl told her mother she and Castaneda had been in a sexual relationship since December of 2013. The girl provided statements to police regarding the relationship, and witnesses testified they had seen Requena-Castaneda with her.

Senior Judge Bob Towslee presided over the trial. Assistant District Attorney Erica Morgan and Joan Scroggins represented the state at trial.

“A 14-year-old child is not legally capable of having a consensual, sexual relationship with a 30-year-old man." said Morgan. "Mr. Castaneda was aware of her age, and chose to ignore it by pursuing sex with her. In Texas, that’s rape.”

“I’m proud of Erica and Joan for the work done on the trial and I can’t say enough about the investigation done by the Sheriff’s Office into the allegations in this case" said District Attorney Julie Renken. "The jury sent a message that crimes like this against children will not be tolerated in Burleson County. A 30-year-old man pursuing a 14-year-old is unacceptable, and will be prosecuted.”