Muniz Sentenced to Eight Years Plus Fine
By: Melissa Foy
Updated: January 18, 2013
Eight years in prison and a $5-thousand fine.
That's the punishment handed down today to a man found guilty of sexual assault
It took jurors about an hour-and-a-half to decide punishment for 45-year-old Efrain Muniz.
He was found guilty Thursday afternoon.
Police say Muniz inappropriately touched the victim in Feb. 2011.
The victim said Muniz used words or actions to threaten her.
During closing arguments in 89th District Court, defense attorneys argued that had the victim truly been in a bad situation, she would have used her cell phone to call for help.
During her testimony, the victim said she didn't call 9-1-1 because she was in Wichita Falls, but her cell phone was registered in Iowa Park, and she thought the call would go to police in Iowa Park.
A forensic scientist who testified during the trial says she found Muniz's DNA on the victim.
That's the punishment handed down today to a man found guilty of sexual assault
It took jurors about an hour-and-a-half to decide punishment for 45-year-old Efrain Muniz.
He was found guilty Thursday afternoon.
Police say Muniz inappropriately touched the victim in Feb. 2011.
The victim said Muniz used words or actions to threaten her.
During closing arguments in 89th District Court, defense attorneys argued that had the victim truly been in a bad situation, she would have used her cell phone to call for help.
During her testimony, the victim said she didn't call 9-1-1 because she was in Wichita Falls, but her cell phone was registered in Iowa Park, and she thought the call would go to police in Iowa Park.
A forensic scientist who testified during the trial says she found Muniz's DNA on the victim.
