Kaufman County, TX - District Attorney Erleigh Norville Wiley announced today the conviction of Cresencio Pedroza, age 78, for the Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 14, a 1st Degree Felony.
Kaufman County, TX - District Attorney Erleigh Norville Wiley announced today the conviction of Cresencio Pedroza, age 78, for the Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 14, a 1st Degree Felony.
Evidence at trial revealed that the acts of sexual abuse against the victim began when she was just five years old and continued until she was eight years old. Jurors heard testimony that the defendant had committed acts of abuse on other minor children during that same time frame. At the conclusion of the three-day jury trial presided over by the Honorable Judge Casey Blair in the 86th District Court, the jury found Mr. Pedroza guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 14.
The Defendant elected to have his punishment assessed by Judge Blair. During the punishment phase of the trial, the prosecution brought additional witnesses who testified that Mr. Pedroza had a history of perpetrating crimes against children as far back as the 1980s. Judge Blair sentenced Mr. Pedroza to life imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, sending a firm message to the community that these acts will not be tolerated in Kaufman County.
The prosecution was led by Assistant District Attorneys Ashley Holman and Timothy O’Brien, Investigator Sandra Ortiz, Paralegal Amanda Morris, and Victim Assistance Coordinators Sabrina Mumaw and Kylie Conner. The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank Investigator Mitchell Hempel and the Children’s Advocacy Center for Kaufman County for their outstanding work investigating this case and ensuring justice and care for the victims.
This case highlights the stark reality of crimes committed against children, as well as the wake of trauma one perpetrator can cause over many years. As we approach Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, the District Attorney’s Office invites the community to join us in recognizing that prevention starts with each of us, and to continue supporting the great work of our Kaufman County child welfare resources. The Kaufman County Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation will be read aloud on April 28, 2025, at 11:30 AM at the Kaufman County Justice Center, and the public is invited to attend.