| Inmate name: | Joe Anthony Zamora |
| Charge description: | On Wednesday, May 21, 2013, Joe Anthony Zamora, a 38-year old Stafford man, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He previously plead guilty to two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and requested the court to assess his punishment. Evidence presented by prosecutors Natalie McKinnon and Laurel Ellisor, of the District Attorneys Office Child Abuse Division, revealed that Joe Zamoras mother, Lupe Zamora, used to babysit the victim in this case. The defendant lived at home and had access to the victim while she was in his mothers care during 2007 and 2008. Due to the abuse, the victim told her parents in 2008 that she no longer wanted to go to Lupes house but didnt tell them why. Then, in July 2011, the victim finally told her father that she had been sexually abused by Zamora. Her fathers first reaction was to resolve the situation himself by killing the defendant, but she begged him not to because she didnt want to lose her own father. The victims father instead confronted Zamora on Facebook about the allegations and the defendant admitted to committing the sexual assaults. The victims father then reported the crimes to local police. During the investigation, the defendant admitted to sexually assaulting the victim and taking pictures of her. A search warrant was executed on his house and multiple forms of digital evidence was obtained. The Greater Houston Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory conducted a forensic analysis and pictures of the victim were recovered. This young lady endured sexual abuse by someone she should have been able to trust, said McKinnon. She is a wonderful girl who has a lot to be proud of. It took great courage to come forward and face her abuser. And because she was able to stand up for herself by telling what happened to her, she stood up for all child victims as well. It is not easy for children to tell when someone has sexually abused them. The perpetrator in this case is going to prison for a long time and I hope children know that adults do listen when they tell, added Ellisor. Zamora was prosecuted in the 240th District Court before Visiting Judge Reagan Clark. Aggravated Sexual Assault is a first-degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Zamora will not be eligible for parole for at least 15 years. He was eligible to receive deferred adjudication probation. |
| Booking location: | Fort Bend County, TX |
