ESCAMILLA FOUND GUILTY OF AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD
	Llano, Texas—Milton Escamilla, Jr. was convicted by a jury of his peers on February 2nd on a charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child.  Escamilla made the election to have the judge assess punishment as provided for under the laws of the State of Texas.   The crime involved a Child who was under 14 at the time the crime was committed. A Llano jury deliberated and handed down the guilty verdict Wednesday afternoon, the 2nd, and sentencing by the judge was set for the following Friday morning. Evidence before the jury included testimony by the child victim as well as testimony by Investigator Laurie Brock and S.A.N.E. (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) Debbie Coats.  The testimony by Ms. Coats consisted of compelling physical evidence showing trauma which corroborated the child’s outcry and was consistent with the time frame set out in her testimony, proving the sexual assault had occurred.                 Llano Sheriff’s Office Investigator Brock’s investigation included collaborating with the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory in Austin and involved testing of physical materials retrieved from the scene.  Gary Molina, a chemist with the D.P.S. Lab, testified regarding DNA analysis taken from these materials which matched Escamilla’s DNA and linked him to the crime.  The investigation also revealed previous instances of sexual assaults perpetrated by Escamilla which were introduced during both the guilt/innocence as well as the punishment phase of the trial. Judge Doug Shaver set Mr. Escamilla’s punishment at 30 years confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at the conclusion of the evidence during the punishment phase of the trial.                Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Nelson was assigned to try the case by District Attorney Sam Oatman and noted, “The real heroes in this case were the victims of Mr. Escamilla.  Each of them showed extreme courage and strength in coming forward and then testifying during the trial.  The work done by Investigator Brock and the S.A.N.E, Debbie Coats, was invaluable in the State’s ability to prove this man guilty and in him receiving the proper punishment.  I am also very pleased with the Judge Shaver’s decision as to the punishment assessed in this case and feel justice was served by the imposition of this sentence.”