A Bowie County man who was sentenced by a jury to the maximum last month for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in 2014 received an additional five years Monday for retaliating against her family.
The stepfather said he was at home when he heard a loud noise, which led him to grab a handgun. The stepfather testified that he found Estes standing in his kitchen. And when he asked him why he was there, Estes said something about "vengeance."
The July 12 incident led to a charge of retaliation, to which Estes pleaded guilty Monday. Estes appeared in a Texarkana coutroom with local lawyer Mike Lusk. Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards handled the case for the state.
During Estes' trial, the victim testified that Estes began living at her family's home in July 2014 when he was separated from his current wife. The girl said that during their multiple sexual encounters over about a four-month period, Estes often expressed concern that he would be in trouble if the girl's parents learned of his illegal contact with their daughter. Other witnesses testified at trial that Estes bragged about having sex with the teen.
The jury sentenced Estes to 20-year terms, the maximum for second-degree sexual assault, at the end of trial Sept. 21. Fifth District Judge Bill Miller ordered the terms to run concurrently. Miller ordered the five-year term for retaliation to run concurrently to the sexual assault terms at Estes' plea and sentencing hearing Monday.