by | Published
SAN ANTONIO, TX — On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio issued two rulings in the case of Santos Barron-Villarreal v. The State of Texas, affirming his three life sentences without the possibility of parole. Barron-Villarreal was convicted by a Starr County jury in November 2023 for the continuous sexual abuse of two young girls and one woman who reported abuse from her childhood.
The original trial took place in the 381st District Court, where prosecutors presented evidence of long-term and repeated abuse committed by Barron-Villarreal against the three victims. The victims testified in court, providing detailed accounts of the abuse they endured. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict and imposed three consecutive life sentences, along with the maximum allowable fine of $30,000.
Following his conviction, Barron-Villarreal filed an appeal challenging multiple aspects of the trial, including the sufficiency of the evidence, alleged errors in jury instructions, and the admission of certain testimony. His legal team sought to overturn the convictions or secure a new trial.
The appellate process, which began shortly after the verdict, took nearly two years to complete. The Fourth Court of Appeals reviewed all claims and rejected each of them, concluding that the trial court did not commit reversible error and that the evidence supported the jury’s decision.
All three appellate briefs were argued by First Assistant District Attorney Alexandria Barrera, who also served as lead prosecutor during the original trial. Barrera worked closely with District Attorney Gocha Allen Ramirez to ensure the case was fully supported from trial through appeal.
"This ruling ensures that justice continues to be served and that Barron-Villarreal remains incarcerated for the crimes he committed against these vulnerable victims," said officials with the District Attorney’s Office.
The ruling provides a final measure of closure for the survivors, whose testimonies were critical in securing the convictions.
Barron-Villarreal, who had no possibility of parole under his original sentence, will continue serving three life sentences in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
