Former teacher to serve 32 years for sexual abuse of a child

On Feb. 25, 2013, a Caldwell County jury convicted Steven Andrew Deleon, 40, of continuous sexual abuse of a young child. The same day, the jury sentenced Deleon to 32 years in prison.

The victim was an 11-year-old student at Travis Elementary School in San Marcos, where the defendant was working as a physical education teacher. The continuous sexual abuse occurred from June

3, 2011 through Aug. 27, 2011 at the victim’s family’s residence at Gary Job Corps in Caldwell County and at the defendant’s home in Martindale. Police learned of the abuse from a recording of a sexually explicit telephone conversation between the defendant and the victim discovered by the victim’s mother.

“We’re pleased with the jury’s verdict and sentence,” said Caldwell County Criminal District Attorney Richard R. “Trey” Hicks III. “This case was made even more tragic by the fact that the defendant was a schoolteacher, a person parents entrust with the safety and welfare of their children. This defendant violated that trust.”

Continuous sexual abuse of a child is a first-degree felony punishable by 25 to 99 years or life in prison, with no possibility of parole.

“The verdict sends a strong message that victimizing children will not be tolerated in our community,” Hicks said. “With the jury’s sentence, this defendant will not be able to prey on any more children for at least the next 32 years.”

This case was investigated by the Kyle Police Department, the Martindale Police Department, and the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office.  Roxanne’s House of the Hays-Caldwell County Women’s Center also assisted with the investigation by conducting forensic interviews of the victim.  Caldwell County First Assistant Criminal District Attorney Luke Alsobrook and Assistant Criminal District Attorney Katy Alsobrook tried the case on the State’s behalf.  Judge Todd Blomerth of the 421st Judicial District Court presided over the trial.  Defense attorney Kevin Collins of San Antonio represented Deleon.

(Courtesy of Trey Hicks)