A Tarrant County jury found 38-year-old Leonel Fernandez guilty on May 15th, 2025, of the continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and indecency with a child. He was subsequently sentenced to 40 years in prison.
The conviction stemmed from a report made on June 20, 2021, by a young family member who disclosed that Fernandez had sexually abused her for approximately two years, beginning when she was eight years old. The victim also reported that Fernandez threatened to kill her mother if she told anyone about the abuse.
The Fort Worth Police Department investigated the allegations and subsequently arrested Fernandez. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Michael Mayfield and Matthew Jackson. District Attorney Investigator Josh Neiswender and Victim Coordinator Imelda Lopez also played key roles in the case.
