Man on trial for death of starving boy sentenced to prison

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Willacy County man was sentenced Wednesday morning for the death of 13-year-old Jesse Harrison.

On Tuesday, a jury found Ruben Gonzalez guilty of criminal negligent homicide and injury to a child in connection to Harrison’s death.

The jury returned Wednesday morning, where they deliberated for two hours to decide Gonzalez’s punishment.

For count one, criminal negligent homicide, he was sentenced to two years.

For count two, injury to a child, he was sentenced to 30 years.

Before sentencing, both the State and the defense pleaded their case. Prosecutors asked the jury if they were going to think about how many days Harrison was left hungry, or the number of years he was not going to be able to live.

The defense reiterated their point that the bulk of the punishment should fall on Harrison’s mother, Sabrina Loredo.

After the jury returned with the verdict, which found him guilty on the two previously mentioned counts, and not guilty on three additional counts of injury to a child, Ruben withdrew his request for probation.

Victim impact statements are expected to follow shortly after.