Burnet, Texas— Adam Castro, 30 years old, was convicted by a jury consisting of two men and eight women on April 14th on a charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. The crime involved a child who was just 9 years of age at the time the sexual assault occurred. The Burnet county jury deliberated for less than an hour before handing down the guilty verdict Wednesday afternoon, the 14th, and the punishment phase of the trial began immediately. The jury returned a verdict assessing punishment for Mr. Castro for a period of ninety years to be served in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and also handed down a $10,000 fine, the maximum amount allowed under Texas law, as well. Castro had no previous criminal record. Evidence before the jury included testimony by the child victim as well as testimony by Marble Falls Police Department officers Trisha Ratliff and J.P. Pedraza, Marble Falls Police Department investigator Tom Dillard, a Sexual Assault nurse examiner, DNA analysts out of D.P.S. in Austin and the child’s family. Judge Doug Shaver sentenced Mr. Castro at the conclusion of the evidence during the punishment phase of the trial and remanded him to the custody of the Sheriff for delivery to the Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Nelson was assigned to try the case by District Attorney Sam Oatman and noted, "This case involved the work of several members of law enforcement, medical professionals and the DPS lab analysts. All of these professionals were invaluable in the State’s ability to prove this man guilty. I am also very pleased with the jury’s decision and feel very strongly that justice was served by the imposition of this sentence and that the jury sent out a clear message regarding the kind of punishment criminals can expect if they choose to break the law in Burnet County." Nelson further noted that "This case illustrates the importance of family and friends taking the time to be close to their children and the importance of adults being aware of the possibility that these crimes do occur. This victim’s family was very close to her and took immediate action when she told them about the crime." District Attorney Oatman added, "It is important that we as a society educate ourselves about sexual predators who prey upon children in order to ensure our children are protected as best we can. It is so important that children have adults in their lives that care enough to watch and be involved so they can feel comfortable enough to come forward and discuss with an adult any behavior that makes them feel uncomfortable. I hope this sends a strong message here in Burnet County and the entire district."