Sexual Assault Of Child Charges Net Austin Man 25-Year Sentence

AUSTIN, TX — A man was sentenced to 25 years in prison this month as part of a plea agreement with the Travis County District Attorneys office, officials revealed on Monday.

Johnny Bueno, 63, pleaded guilty to the offenses of continuous sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by contact, the Travis County District Attorney's Office said. Bueno was sentenced to the lengthy prison term on Feb. 4 by Judge Tamara Needles in the 427th District Court. Under this sentence, Bueno is not eligible for parole and must serve the 25 years day for day, prosecutors noted.

According to investigators with the Austin Police Department, in the early 2000’s Bueno married a woman with several children. He began sexually abusing his stepchildren when they were as young as five years old until they reached puberty, an investigation revealed. The abuse continued with step-grandchildren, according to the DA's office.

Prosecutors noted the crimes remained a family secret until Bueno abused a child outside of the family. Investigator said that other victim, a boy, was five years old when the abuse started and continued until he was eleven. Two years later, prosecutors learned, the young victim told his mother what had happened. As a result of his outcry, the DA's office said, many of the other victims then spoke up and Bueno was arrested in October 2017.

After sentencing, four of the victims took the stand to confront their perpetrator. The victims and their families were thankful for the opportunity to speak their peace, have closure, and move on with their lives according to Travis County Assistant District Attorney Michelle Hallee who prosecuted the case.

Hallee was assisted by DA Investigator David Stovall and Victim Counselor Jennifer Murphy who were both instrumental in preparing the case for court.