FORT WORTH, TX — Two men received substantial prison terms in Tarrant County this week following convictions in separate child sex abuse cases. Enrique Martinez, 38, was sentenced to 80 years in prison, while Jimmy Ray Horton, 62, received two life sentences for crimes involving a preschool-aged victim.
Enrique Martinez: 80-Year Sentence
A Tarrant County jury found Martinez guilty of Sexual Assault of a Child following a prosecution led by Stephanie Simpson and Morgan Moya. The conviction stems from a 2015 incident where Martinez, then 27, repeatedly assaulted a 15-year-old who had run away from home.
The case resurfaced in May 2024 after the Fort Worth Police Department launched a new investigation when Martinez was observed inappropriately touching a different child. During the punishment phase, jurors were presented with Martinez’s extensive criminal record, which included aggravated robberies and a history of intimate partner violence. The jury ultimately assessed a term of 80 years.
Jimmy Ray Horton: Two Life Sentences
In a separate courtroom, Jimmy Ray Horton was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and handed two life sentences. This investigation was conducted by the Grand Prairie Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Olivia Stoner and Sydney Brock.
The case began in July 2024 when a 4-year-old victim told her mother that Horton had been sexually abusing her inside his bedroom. As detectives delved into the case, they executed search warrants on Horton's electronic devices, which uncovered a collection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Commitment to Justice
The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office emphasized that these sentences reflect the severity of the crimes and the community's commitment to protecting vulnerable children.
"These outcomes ensure that two dangerous predators are removed from our streets for a very long time," the office noted in a summary of the week's proceedings.
