Sex offender facing life term
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 11 2009 05:21 AM
By Hayley Kappes
Killeen Daily HeraldBELTON – A Killeen man could face a life sentence if convicted on three counts of indecency with a child by contact.
A Bell County grand jury indicted Jorge Mendoza Jr., aka George Mendoza Jr., 32, for allegedly committing the crimes on March 24 in the victim's Temple home.
The victim was 13 at the time.
The boyfriend of the victim's mother told Temple police officers he found an unknown male inside a bedroom at their residence, according to the arrest affidavit.
The man told police he saw the victim kneeling in front of the suspect, who zipped up his pants once he arrived, according to the affidavit.
He chased Mendoza from the residence. Officers later found Mendoza hiding behind bushes in a nearby backyard, according to the affidavit.
A vehicle parked behind the residence was traced as belonging to Freedom Suzuki in Temple. The dealership owner told police Mendoza was employed there, and used the vehicle to drop off a customer, according to the affidavit.
The victim told police she met Mendoza on the Internet about two months ago. She gave the suspect her phone number and address and they exchanged text messages, according to the affidavit.
She said Mendoza fondled her and exposed his genitals while he was at the victim's home.
First Assistant District Attorney Murff Bledsoe said Mendoza could receive a life sentence since he has a previous conviction for sexually assaulting a child and indecency with a child.
Judge Guilford L. Jones of the 33rd District Court in Burnet County found Mendoza guilty of the offenses on Oct. 24.
Contact Hayley Kappes at
hayleyk@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7559.