San Angelo Man Gets 20 Years in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Two Girls

SAN ANGELO, TX – A 42-year-old San Angelo man, Jose Jesus Gonzales, who faced six counts of sexual assault against two girls younger than 17 and 14, pleaded guilty this afternoon in Judge Barbara Walther’s 51^st District Court.

Because of his plea, Gonzales will spend 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison.

Overall, four of the counts against Gonzales are second degree felonies, which means his sentence cannot exceed 20 years for each, and his fine cannot exceed $10,000. However, the other two counts are first degree felonies, but, as part of the plea, those counts were 12.45’d. That means those cases are resolved, and Gonzales cannot be prosecuted further on those counts.

Also, as part of the plea, Gonzales received a 20-year sentence for each of the four second degree felony counts that will run concurrently. Therefore, instead of spending 80 years in prison, he will serve 20.

Judge Walther also gave Gonzales credit for time served. He has been incarcerated for his crimes since Nov. 29, 2015.

“Good luck, sir,” Judge Walther said after the hearing finalized.

According to court documents, Gonzales, on or about Nov. 26, 2015, knowingly and intentionally sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl at an abandoned manufactured home. The girl told officials she and Gonzales had sexual intercourse at the home since approximately May 2015. The victim said Gonzales assaulted her on more than 50 occasions.

As for the other victim, the girl younger than 14, he also sexually assaulted her in November of 2015.

For more stories on this case, click here and here.

Also scheduled for a Motion to Withdraw hearing this afternoon was Brandi Weidner, who faces a charge of Accident Involving Death of Gunner McNeil. She was scheduled to appear in Judge Jay Weatherby’s 340^th District Court, but was a no show.

Weidner’s defense attorney told Weatherby that there have been communication problems with Weidner.

Assistant District Attorney Ashley Knight said she’s worried about Weidner being informed of her final pre-trial in November.

Judge Weatherby said the court will look into taking further action if she doesn’t show for that hearing.

For more on Weidner’s case, click here.