February 25, 2020, In Plano, a church volunteer was sentenced to 40 years behind bars after pleading guilty to aggravated sexual assault of a minor. 45-year-old Everardo Raul Sanchez-Cabrera, Plano resident, was found guilty of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl.
Reports from the Collin County District Attorney’s Office state that the 45-year-old man was a volunteer worship leader at the church the victim and her family attended. According to the office, the convict began communicating with the 11-year-old victim through social media, without the victim’s parents’ knowledge. The convict and the victim communicated back and forth over the course of several months before Sanchez-Cabrera coerced her into secretly meeting with him in person. From there, the man picked up the 11-year-old and took her to his place of residence, where he later sexually assaulted her.
After a period of time where the victim’s parents noticed a change in her demeanor (increased sadness, anger, fearfulness), she later confided in her parents about the sexual assault that had occurred. From there, the case went the trial, and Sanchez-Cabrera pled guilty to the aggravated sexual assault. District Attorney Greg Willis states, “We expect our church leaders, even volunteers, to be role models and teachers; not predators. Those who prey on children must face the consequences.”
In the state of Texas, an individual commits aggravated sexual assault when the following actions take place, regardless of whether the person knows the age of the child at the time of the offense:
- intentionally or knowingly causing the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of a child by any means
- Intentionally or knowingly causing the penetration of the mouth of a child by the sexual organ of the actor;
- Intentionally or knowingly causing the sexual organ of a child to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor;
- Intentionally or knowingly causing the anus of a child to contact the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor;
- Intentionally or knowingly causing the mouth of a child to contact the anus or sexual organ of another person, including the actor.
Consequences of Sexual Assault
Aggravated sexual assault is considered to be a first-degree felony, which means that it carries severe punishments and penalties. A jail sentence that accompanies an aggravated sexual assault ranges from 5 to 99 years, and it can also be accompanied by a fine of up to $10,000. In addition to this, the convict will be forced to register as a lifetime sex offender with the state of Texas and will face all subsequent consequences of being found on the sex offender registry. This includes, but is not limited to, employment opportunities, residence options, and eligibility for government aid.
Sexual offenses in Plano and Collin County must be heavily punished. Individuals like Sanchez-Cabrera are threats to society, and they need to be removed from our communities before they can do any harm. In this situation, the criminal used his position as a trusted worship leader to abuse his power and take advantage of an innocent child. This type of behavior has no place in society, and criminals who are caught engaging in such activity need to be punished. False accusations happen, but in this case, there was overwhelming evidence that pointed towards the defendant is guilty of the alleged crime. This is not something that should ever happen, and when it does, justice must be served.
Find a Sexual Assault Defense Attorney in Collin County | Law offices of Richard C. McConathy
As a criminal defense law firm, the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy support the individuals who help put these criminals behind bars. We do not support or condone the actions of Sanchez-Cabrera, and we applaud the investigators who work tirelessly to bring these criminals to the forefront.
As a law firm, we also understand that every case is different. Not every charge is supposed to end in a conviction, and not every person who is accused of a crime is guilty. Because of this, many people find themselves in search of criminal defense attorneys who can help them fight back against their criminal charges.
Led by experienced defense attorney Richard C. McConathy, our law firm can help citizens of Plano, Collin County, and the surrounding areas. We passionately represent our clients in the courts of law, and our team works diligently to make sure we are building a strong case for the clients we proudly represent. If you find yourself in need of legal defense and you’re not sure where to start, call us at (469) 304-3422 to speak to an expert. You can also reach us through our online contact form here.