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Child Predator sentenced to Life in Prison for Sexual Assault
A Montgomery County man who used social media to target and victimize minors systematically was sentenced to life in prison last week in Montgomery County’s 9th District Court, marking the conclusion of an extensive investigation by the Conroe Police Department.
Ramon Figueroa Jr., 22, received the maximum sentences allowed by Texas law: life imprisonment for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and 20 years for Online Solicitation of a Minor. The sentences were imposed by Judge Phil Grant of the 9th District Court following the defendant’s guilty plea. The prosecution successfully demonstrated a pattern of predatory behavior that warranted the maximum penalties.
The investigation began in July 2022 when Conroe Police responded to a report of a runaway juvenile. Detective Caitlin Adams traced the minor to Figueroa’s Porter residence by analyzing social media activity and cellular location data. A DNA test confirmed that the defendant had sexually assaulted the child. A subsequent forensic examination of electronic devices revealed a cache of explicit messages between the defendant and the child.
Investigators secured a search warrant for Figueroa’s Snapchat account. The digital evidence revealed an extensive network of communications targeting dozens of minors aged 12 to 16.
Investigators documented a consistent pattern where Figueroa would identify potential victims through the platform, lie about his age to appear younger than he was, explicitly acknowledge the child’s young age, and methodically work to gain their trust before escalating to requests for meetings and sexual content.
Adams’ investigation identified a second Montgomery County victim, a 12-year-old special needs child that the defendant physically and sexually assaulted. The child’s father testified at sentencing about the severe emotional and physical trauma this child suffered at the hands of the defendant.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a Division of the Houston Metro ICAC Task Force, used Adams’ investigation to build a comprehensive case highlighting the predatory nature of Figueroa’s actions. Adams sorted through thousands of messages and multimedia files, creating a timeline of expansive criminal behavior.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Chris Seufert, with the investigation led by Detective Adams of the Conroe Police Department.
Assistant District Attorney Chris Seufert stated, “When Detective Adams takes on a case, she doesn’t simply investigate – she fights for every victim. Her tireless work on this investigation revealed layers of abuse that might have otherwise remained hidden. Thanks to her unwavering commitment, a dangerous predator was held accountable, and multiple survivors can begin their journey toward healing.”
District Attorney Brett Ligon shared, “Here in Montgomery County, we’ve got a special recipe for dealing with child predators – take one part old-fashioned justice, add some high-tech investigation, and serve with a life sentence. The predators might not like the taste, but we’re going to keep serving it up.”
Source: Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office
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