Man sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting 3-year-old, giving her an STD

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA/Gray News) – A man in Texas has been sentenced to 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole for sexually assaulting a 3-year-old girl and giving her a sexually transmitted disease.

Enrique Elizalde was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, and his sentence was handed down this week by a Potter County judge.

The case stemmed from a January 2020 investigation by the Amarillo Police Department after a 3-year-old child was reported to have symptoms of an STD.

During the investigation, police identified Elizalde as a suspect.

According to the 47th District Attorney’s Office, Elizalde admitted during an interview with a detective that he had sexual contact with the child.

Following his arrest, a 13-year-old girl also came forward and accused Elizalde of sexual abuse.

The case was tried in the 47th District Court of Potter County before Judge Dee Johnson. Testimony was provided by Amarillo police officers, a sexual assault nurse examiner, a medical doctor, and several family members of both the defendant and the victims.

Jurors returned a guilty verdict and recommended the maximum sentence allowed by law.

Because the victim was under 6 years old at the time of the offense, Elizalde will serve the full 25-year sentence without the possibility of parole.

“Verdicts like this are a reminder of how seriously our community takes the obligation to protect our youngest and most vulnerable children,” District Attorney Jason Herring said in a statement. “Our office is proud to have prosecuted this case and grateful for the jury’s verdict.”