Man sentenced to 7 life sentences for child sex crimes
AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - A trial in Randall County for 25 separate charges ended with a man being sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences.
According to the Randall County District Attorney, the trial against Melchor Magdaleno-Garcia began on April 5, with 25 total charges submitted to the jury of:
- 2 counts of sexual assault of a child
- 3 counts of sexual assault
- 7 counts of sexual assault of a child - prohibited sexual conduct
- 13 counts of sexual assault - prohibited sexual conduct
The incidents originated in California when Magdaleno-Garcia married a woman with three young children in 2012.
Shortly after the marriage, Magdaleno-Garcia began physically abusing his wife and her children. The abuse included deprivation of food and water, physical abuse and being locked in dog kennels, clothed or naked. The children were 7, 10 and 12 years old.
Eventually, Magdaleno-Garcia also began sexually assaulting the children.
In 2018, Magdaleno-Garcia moved the family to many locations before ending up in Randall County in April of 2019.
While living in Randall County, Magdaleno-Garcia continued physically and sexually assaulting his stepchildren. He refused to let them attend school, have jobs or friends and more.
The three victims testified at the trial. Magdaleno-Garcia also testified and admitted to having sexual intercourse repeatedly with two of the three victims, one of which was a child at the time of the offenses in Randall County.
Magdaleno-Garcia denied that his actions were his fault. He also claimed that he felt he was also married to all three of his stepchildren and was therefore entitled to have sexual relations with them.
The jury returned guilty verdicts on all 25 counts.
The maximum punishment allowed by law on all 25 counts was 20 years on five counts and life in prison for the remaining 20 counts.
The State asked that all 7 charges of sexual assault of a child - prohibited sexual conduct run consecutively, and the judge agreed. Magdaleno-Garcia will serve two 20-year sentences and seven life sentences one after another.
District Attorney Robert Love stated, “This case is a culmination of three years of investigation and preparation by law enforcement and the prosecutors, investigators and victim coordinators in this office. We are grateful and we know the victims are grateful for both the guilt and punishment verdicts in this case. After 10 years of torture and three more years waiting for trial, the victims finally have justice.”
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