Prosecutors said the victims’ families trusted Jeffrey Hitchcock to care for the children. Instead, he subjected them to years of trauma and abuse.
CONROE, Texas — A Montgomery County man will spend the rest of his life in prison for torturing and sexually abusing children for years.
After hearing testimony from the victims, it took jurors only minutes to convict Jeffrey Hitchcock of continuous sexual abuse of a child. They sentenced the sex predator to life and he will never be eligible for parole, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
During his trial, prosecutors said his victims’ families trusted Hitchcock to care for multiple children who moved into his home as toddlers in 2005. Instead, he subjected them to years of trauma and abuse.
The abuse remained hidden until one of the victims bravely confided in a friend. That led to a school report followed by a criminal investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
The first victim gave emotional testimony about the physical and sexual abuse that began in 2008 and lasted until 2014. She also described the traumatic abuse she witnessed of her intellectually disabled sister. The victim said Hitchcock manipulated her and her siblings into silence.
The sister with disabilities also took the stand. In a powerful moment, Assistant District Attorney Jaime Wallace asked everyone in the courtroom to close their eyes as she counted down from three. With the room in silence, the sister began to recount the horrific physical and sexual abuse she endured as a child.
“We fight for these children as if they were our own. True courage lives in the courtroom, where young survivors, carrying the weight of fear and shame, bravely face their abusers and speak their truth,” ADA Wallace said after the trial. “That is heroism.”
Wallace said Hitchcock’s actions caused a lifetime of trauma, affecting the victims’ ability to trust, form relationships, and make decisions about having children of their own.
“This verdict sends a clear message that justice will be served for victims of abuse. We are grateful for the bravery of survivors of child sexual and physical abuse and for the dedication and commitment of law enforcement in bringing this case to a just conclusion,” Montgomery County DA Brett Ligon said.
During sentencing, the prosecution disclosed that Hitchcock was hired as a high school janitor in 2013 and engaged in inappropriate behavior with a student, resulting in his resignation.
Due to the nature of his crimes, Hitchcock is not eligible for parole under Texas law.
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