Rusk Man Gets Life in Prison for Sexual Assault of Child

RUSK � A Rusk man was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday for the aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14. According to Cherokee County prosecutor Charles Breaux, Rafael Villegas, 54, sexually assaulted a girl in 2000. Officials were able to charge the convict because of an amended law allowing the state to prosecute crimes committed within 10 years of the victim’s eighteenth birthday. Therefore, the statute of limitations did not apply, according to KETK. Villegas was found guilty Tuesday by a jury.

Breaux said the key to the case was testimony from three other adults who claimed they were sexually assaulted by Villegas when they were children. Villegas is currently facing two other indictments for aggravated sexual assault of a child. He may become eligible for parole after serving 30 years, Breaux stated. Villegas also received five years in 2010 for a DWI and was out on parole when he was charged with the aggravated sexual assault for which he’s been sentenced.