How Could You? Hall of Shame-Jesse Aranda

From Dripping Springs, Texas, 51-year old Jesse Aranda receives a 10 year sentence for sexual assault against his then-15 year old foster daughter. He was convicted of assault on the same girl in 2008.

“Thursday’s sentencing followed two days of testimony in which witnesses for the defense included other former foster children that Aranda and his wife had taken into their home and a caseworker whose duty it was to check in on the family.

Aranda’s attorney Richard Ursha had argued for probation, urging jurors to give him “a second chance,” in part because of his age. Ursha told jurors his client would be “highly supervised” if given probation and would also receive treatment. “Other foster kids have stuck with him,” Ursha said.

In attendance at the trial were Aranda’s wife, other family members and friends.

Assistant DA Amy Lockhart, in her turn before the jury, argued that the girl “never had anyone to protect her,” and told jurors that their guilty verdict put them in that role. “She has such an uphill battle,” Lockhart said of Aranda’s victim. “It will be difficult for her to live a normal life.”

After the sentence was read, the girl took the stand to read a prepared statement to Aranda.

“All I asked for was a father who loved me like a daughter,” she said. “You confused me, betrayed me, made me disgusted and scared.”

She also addressed Aranda’s wife, “she was a mom I’ve always prayed for.”

The girl addressed Aranda as “a very bad man.”

“I hope this will haunt you like it will haunt me,” she said.

Compton said the girl had been placed with the Aranda family by the Settlement Home agency in Austin.”
10-year sentence in child abuse case
[San Marcos Record January 14, 2011 by Anita Miller]

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