A 53-year-old Houston man was sentenced late Tuesday to 45 years in prison for killing his girlfriend and shooting her adult daughter during an argument in January 2023.

“The victim in this case was a loving, caring mother who was killed tragically when an argument escalated into a murder,” Ogg said. “This defendant intentionally chose to take a life, and now he will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars thinking about that decision.”

Christopher George Edwards, 53, pleaded guilty to shooting 41-year-old Tamarah Derry in the face during a heated argument at their apartment in south Houston on Jan. 23, 2023.

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A 22-year-old Houston man was sentenced late Thursday to life in prison after being convicted of capital murder for killing an acquaintance while robbing him at his apartment, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“This was not a crime of opportunity,” Ogg said. “This defendant coordinated with other people to plan out and complete a robbery and murder, so life in prison is absolutely the most appropriate punishment for a killer like this.”

Jourdan Ellison was convicted of capital murder for killing a rapper he knew, 19-year-old Christian Alexander Lezama, on Sept. 4, 2019.

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A Houston man was sentenced late Wednesday to 55 years in prison after being convicted of murder for beating his 3-year-old nephew to death, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“Our children are our most vulnerable victims and when they are hurt or killed, we do everything possible to get justice for them,” Ogg said. “No child should ever be treated like this little boy was, and this child abuser absolutely deserves to spend decades, and hopefully the rest of his life, behind bars.”

Melvin O. Morales-Gomez, 31, was convicted by a jury during an eight-day trial for killing 3-year-old Kevin Ramirez-Lara on Jan. 30, 2020.

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A Cypress-area man who killed a high school friend in a late-night shooting was sentenced to 40 in prison on Friday, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“There was absolutely no reason for this cold-blooded murder, so we know this man is a danger to the community,” Ogg said. “In fact, after he was freed on bond for murder, he continued his criminal ways and was rearrested for carrying a gun.”

James Michael Sotelo, 21, was sentenced by a judge to 40 years in prison for the murder of Corey Thompson, a friend from high school who was spending the night at the Sotelo family home, on March 20, 2021.

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A 38-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for trafficking a minor, District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Tuesday.

“A man who preys on a teenage victim is a predator and deserves to go prison for decades,” Ogg said. “This victim was brave enough to help put her abuser in prison, and we are grateful to the jurors who helped get justice for this girl.”

A jury convicted and sentenced Akeem Olajuwon Winfield, 38, in a three-day trial last week of forcing a 15-year-old runaway to prostitute herself in 2018.

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A man who has been free on bond for the past nine years after his first conviction was overturned for a 2008 murder in Deer Park was sentenced late Wednesday to 25 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

Although Cameron Michael Moon was finally held accountable for his actions, Ogg noted that the case has languished in the appellate courts for years.

“Lawyers face deadlines every day,” Ogg said. “Appellate courts should have them as well for criminal cases, and this case shows exactly why. No family should have to wait 16 years for justice.”

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A Houston man was sentenced to two life terms in prison this week for severely abusing two small children by beating them, restraining them with zip ties and withholding food in 2019 and 2020, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“Our children are our most valuable resource and our most vulnerable victims,” Ogg said. “This man intentionally tortured two little kids and now, hopefully, he will spend the rest of his life in prison.”

Victor Prado, 45, worked in a southwest Houston commercial office building as the owner of a moving company.

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An Humble teen who killed his mother in 2022 then put her body in the trunk of the family car to flee Houston pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced this week to 40 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“This is an awful tragedy for this family,” Ogg said. “It was important that this defendant took responsibility for what he did, and now he will spend decades in prison for his actions.”

Tyler Roenz, 19, killed his mother, 49-year-old Michelle Roenz, while the two were at home the morning of Oct. 13, 2022. He then put her body in the trunk of the family car, a black Mazda, and drove north. A family member arriving at the house after Roenz left suspected foul play and called the Harris County Sheriff’s Office about the mother and son being missing with the car.

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A Spring Branch man was sentenced to two life sentences Wednesday for killing a man he knew, then killing the man’s girlfriend, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“This was an ambush, plain and simple, and it was important to the family and to our community that we bring the people who were responsible to justice,” Ogg said. “What happened to this young couple is simply unforgivable, and we will continue working to get justice for them and their families.”

Herbert James Simon, 42, was sentenced by state District Judge Andrea Beall after being convicted of murder and aggravated kidnapping by a jury in a five-day trial.

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