WACO, Texas — A man has been sentenced to life in prison in McLennan County after a jury convicted him of sexually abusing a child, according to the McLennan County District Attorney's Office.
The DA's Office stated in a release that 62-year-old Ancelmo Banda was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday, Jan. 10 after being convicted of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 14, as well as two counts of Indecency With a Child.
According to the DA's Office, the victim Banda was convicted of abusing was related to him by marriage. The victim reportedly disclosed the abuse when they were 10 years old after a family member saw Banda leaving their room without his clothes on.
The release stated the victim's family immediately reported the abuse to the police and supported the victim. The Waco Police Department, alongside personnel from Waco's Victim Advocacy Center and Child Protective Services then began an investigation.
Based on the investigation, prosecutors from McLennan County charged Banda with one count of Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 14 and two counts of Indecency With a Child by Contact.
At the trial, the victim reportedly testified that the abuse had taken place when they were between the ages of 7 and 10. The relative who discovered the abuse, child abuse investigators and medical professionals also testified.
The jury deliberated for 25 minutes before convicting Banda on all three charges, said the McLennan County DA's Office.
Banda was given the maximum possible sentence on each charge, being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child charge and 20 years for both of the Indecency charges. The three sentences will reportedly run concurrently.
The DA's Office said Banda will be in prison for the rest of his life.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jessica Washington and Luke McCowan.
"We hope that the victim and her family find some peace in this verdict," the prosecuting attorneys said in the release. "We also hope that time and justice allow this young woman to rebuild her sense of trust, which this defendant destroyed with his actions.”
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