A Galveston County jury has sentenced a 44-year-old man to 50 years in prison for sexually abusing two young girls over several years.
Prosecutors say Michael Lynn Almanza was convicted on Friday of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, as well as two charges of indecency with a child. Each conviction carries a concurrent 50-year sentence.
The case began in 2020, when Hitchcock police reacted to a domestic disturbance and discovered that Almanza had sexually abused a 13-year-old girl since she was five. Following the outcry, a second woman came forward, claiming Almanza assaulted her years ago.
Most of the abuse occurred while residing in Galveston. Investigators discovered that Almanza would beat the children when their mother was not there or was incapacitated, including in a car while teaching one daughter how to drive at the age of 13.
The trial commenced on December 1. Prosecutors Tyler Alley and Kyle Vance called both victims, their mother, Galveston police detective Amanda Smith, and a number of forensic and medical specialists to testify. Almanza also tattooed one of the victims’ breasts, according to evidence. Almanza did not take the stand.
After nearly two hours of deliberation on Thursday, the jury declared him guilty. During sentencing, prosecutors disclosed that Almanza had previously been convicted of burglary and violence. Because Texas law prohibits parole for ongoing sexual assault of a child, Almanza must spend the entire 50 years. According to jail records, Almanza’s expected release date is November 19, 2075.
Both survivors testified in court, praising detectives and prosecutors for believing them and bringing them justice.
The Galveston County District Attorney’s Office applauded the Galveston and Hitchcock police departments, UTMB’s ABC Center, and the Galveston County Child Advocacy Center for their efforts in the investigation.
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