Teen pleads guilty to sex assault, indecency

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

An area teen was sentenced to 20 years in prison last week after pleading guilty to one count of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and one count of Indecency with a Child.

Robert Lee Balitz, 18, entered a guilty plea in January in connection with the charges, which stem from accusations that he assaulted a 4-year-old

neighbor child. Upon his guilty plea, Balitz faced up to 25 years behind bars for the sexual assault charge, and 10 years of deferred adjudication probation for the indecency charge.

421st Judicial District Judge Todd Blomerth ruled on Friday that Balitz would serve 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division, along with the full 10-year term on probation. Additionally, Blomerth ordered the sentences would run consecutively.

According to Caldwell County District Attorney Trey Hicks, Blomerth’s sentence means that Balitz must serve his prison term before beginning his probation. Upon his release from prison, he will begin the probation term. If he violates the conditions of his probation at that time, Balitz could face another 20 years behind bars.

Balitz will become eligible for parole after serving one half of his prison term. However, as a result of his conviction, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.