A 62-year-old Baytown man was sentenced to 50 years in prison for molesting three girls, one in 1982 and two others beginning in 1998, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“Law enforcement and our prosecutors worked hard to untangle and uncover all of the evil acts committed by this man and get justice for these girls who are now women,” Ogg said. “Hopefully, this man will never again be alone in the same room with a child and can never hurt anyone again.”

Jose Luis Pena was convicted by a jury last week of aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14. Jurors first heard that he molested one girl once and another girl several times over three years beginning in 1998.

After the girls grew up, they alerted the Houston Police Department to the assaults, which began an investigation.

The investigation showed that Pena also molested an 8-year-old when he was about 19 in 1982.

After he was convicted, Pena opted to be punished by the judge, who handed down a 50-year sentence.

The four-day trial was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Wesley Stafford and Andrew Sanchez, who are both assigned to the DA’s Crimes Against Children Division.

“This case shows that it’s never too late to say what happened,” Stafford said. “These women have grown up, were able to tell their story and testify against their abuser. Through their strength and love for each other, they were able to get the justice they deserve.”

Pena will have to serve at least half of the prison sentence before he will be eligible for parole.

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