Staff Report
SAN MARCOS — Luis Rangel, 50, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child March 10, according to the office of Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins.
Rangel was indicted in 2023 for sexually abusing his step-granddaughter from the ages of 7 to 12 years old, shortly after her delayed outcry in 2022.
One day after a jury was selected and moments before opening statements in the trial, Rangel entered a plea of guilty to three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child for acts alleged in 2014, 2017 and 2020.
Because the case was resolved by a guilty plea, the child victim did not have to testify about the sexual abuse she experienced at a young age.
The allegations Rangel pleaded to involve performing oral intercourse on the child, while she slept. According to a Hays County news release, she was present for Rangel’s guilty plea and sentencing and spoke during allocution to the defendant about the trauma she continues to experience because of his actions.
Rangel was sentenced to 30 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
This case was investigated by the Austin and San Marcos police departments and was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Cassidy Story and Daniel Sakaida, assisted by Sandra Groters, Avery Slocum, Zoie Sanders and Sergeant Investigator Robert Torres.
“We want to thank the jury for dedicating their time,” Story said. “Without their willingness to serve, a plea agreement would not have been reached. I would also like to thank the victim for her bravery and we hope that the closing of this chapter will open one that leads to continued healing with the assurance that this man finally paid for the long-term damage he has done.”
