HARDIN COUNTY, Texas — A 64-year-old man received what may be Hardin County's longest sentence ever after a jury found him guilty of committing sex crimes against children.
Ronnie Lee Gordon was sentenced to life plus another 160 years in a Texas state prison by Judge Steve Thomas after a Hardin County jury found him guilty on Friday, January 13, 2023.
Gordon was found guilty on all of the 10 charges he faced related to sexually abusing two children who are now adults.
The two women spoke out after a 6-year-old girl made an outcry to her mom that Gordon touched her in May 2017. The women said the abuse started when they were 5 years old and continued into their early teenage years.
Charges were filed in Hardin County on behalf of the two women for the sexual abuse that occurred in Silsbee.
“These verdicts and sentences assure each victim that Gordon will never be able to harm another child,” Assistant District Attorney Kaneshia Moore said. “Please speak up against sexual abuse because you never know how many people are depending on your voice.”
Jurors heard testimony from both adult victims during the trial. The women told the jury about the years of sexual abuse they went through at the hands of Gordon.
The now 12-year-old victim told the jury about how she was also inappropriately touched by Gordon while visiting his home and playing with his dog.
Four more victims, one woman and three men, also testified that Gordon sexually abused them on multiple occasions when they were children, according to the release.
While most of the victims were known to Gordon, officials believe he had access to many other children while serving as a little league baseball coach.
A case is currently pending in Tyler County for the now 12-year-old victim who made the 2017 outcry.
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