When justice is delayed, victims pay the heaviest price.
Earlier this month in the 143rd Judicial District, our office secured an important conviction. Jonathan Matthew Calder was convicted of first-degree felony aggravated sexual assault of a minor. A thoughtful, attentive local jury heard the evidence, deliberated, and delivered a verdict. Calder has now been sentenced to life in prison, where he belongs.
Securing that result took a great deal of work from law enforcement at every stage, in both the investigative process and the prosecution.
It demanded immense courage from the victim, who even had to take the stand on her own birthday. Other witnesses also showed powerful resolve in an intimidating situation — including individuals we brought in from Missouri during the penalty phase to testify about his prior conduct in another state.
In hopes of sparing all of them the trauma of having to take the stand, recount their experiences, and detail what they know, I offered Calder plea deals. He would still have faced substantial prison time and lifetime sex offender registration. He rejected them, and gambled with the jury.
So we went to trial. There, we produced the full weight of evidence. The jury was made up of attentive, responsible community members. They understood their duty to uphold the law and to make a determination about what was proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
In the end, they delivered the right verdict. One that should ensure Calder is never able to harm another child.
As is so common in these types of cases, the defendant was accompanied by the woman he’s currently with. She stood by him throughout the entire trial. In prosecuting these cases, I see frequently how denial enables abusers to hide in plain sight — which is another reason objective evidence and clear testimony are essential.
State Laws That Help Strengthen Prosecutions
Securing a conviction in cases like this requires precision and strong, clear laws. As I shared on X, two specific Texas statutes were especially vital:
- Article 38.072, the “outcry witness” rule: This statute allows testimony from the first adult a child confided in. In courtrooms where testifying can be terrifying for a young survivor, this rule helps make sure the child’s voice is heard accurately and clearly.
- Article 38.37, the “evidence of extraneous offenses or acts” rule: Child sexual abuse often follows patterns and involves repeat offenders. This statute allows prosecutors to introduce evidence of a defendant’s other acts of abuse once proven beyond a reasonable doubt, establishing predatory behavior for the jury.
When state law empowers local prosecutors with these kinds of workable, pragmatic evidentiary tools, dangerous criminals end up behind bars.
Long Way to Go
While wins like this are justice in action, they should not be used to obscure the painful reality. This case took years to close — and many, many similar cases remain open across Texas.
When I took office less than two years ago, my team inherited a deep backlog of unresolved cases across our three counties. Statewide, there are stalled investigations, untested pieces of evidence, and overworked law enforcement offices piecing through massive amounts of work. Every day an alleged predator remains free, they can extend their trail of victims.
My oath is to the U.S. and Texas Constitutions, our local community, and the victims who deserve real accountability. Regardless of what political winds blow through Austin this election season, our office will stay focused on tackling the most pressing cases, fighting the most serious crimes, protecting the vulnerable, and doing the work of public safety.
Here’s something you can do: use your votes in the midterm elections to strengthen your community. Forget the parties, and focus on the candidates. What do they offer in the way of real, pragmatic solutions to improve your life and the lives of your neighbors?
Check out my Guide to the Midterms.