by | Published
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — A Comal County jury has convicted a New Braunfels man of assaulting a family member, and a judge has sentenced him to 25 years in prison after determining he qualified as a habitual felony offender.
Felix Villarreal Castilleja Jr., 49, was found guilty of Assault Family Violence with a Previous Conviction for Family Violence.
Castilleja elected to have the court determine his punishment. On April 29, 2026, 207th District Court Judge Tracie Wright-Reneau sentenced him to 25 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The court also entered an affirmative finding that the offense involved family violence. Prosecutors said the sentence was enhanced because of Castilleja's prior felony convictions, qualifying him as a habitual offender under Texas law.
The conviction stems from an incident on April 7, 2021, when officers with the New Braunfels Police Department responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a domestic disturbance.
Callers reported that Castilleja was acting erratically and had slapped a woman. They also told dispatchers he was preventing the victim from leaving a bedroom.
When officers arrived, the victim said the confrontation began after she rejected Castilleja's sexual advances and asked him to lower the volume of his music.
According to investigators, Castilleja responded by slapping her across the face, knocking her backward.
The victim told officers Castilleja had been drinking throughout the day and began arguing with her after she returned home from work. She also reported that he threatened to kill her, causing her to fear for her life.
She was eventually able to escape, lock herself inside a bathroom, and call 911.
The victim also told officers that Castilleja had a history of abusing her, particularly while using drugs.
Responding officers observed the victim crying and documented redness near her eyebrow and forehead, injuries they said were consistent with her account of the assault.
When officers spoke with Castilleja, they noted he had slurred speech and admitted he had been drinking. Investigators also found him in possession of a glass methamphetamine pipe containing a white crystalline substance.
Castilleja denied assaulting the victim, telling officers he had only "placed her on the bed" during the altercation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Cassandra Guajardo and Joshua Lopez with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Brian Kempker and Victim Assistance Coordinator Taylor Perovich.
