Judge Sentences Convicted Predator Castleberry

HOUSTON - A judge has ordered multiple life sentences in prison for a man convicted of sexually assaulting several young girls over a period of more than 20 years in the Spring area.

Darren Ray Castleberry, 41, was sentenced to two life terms in prison by Judge Kevin Fine on Friday for the two counts of aggravated sexual assault that he was convicted of on Thursday.

Castleberry was also sentenced to two 20-year prison sentences for the two counts of sexual assault he pleaded guilty to before the trial began. He sexually assaulted at least seven girls spanning 21 years.

Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos calls Castleberry “one of the most monstrous child molesters in the history of Harris County.”

Four witnesses were in the courtroom because the judge allowed the accusers to face Castleberry and make victim impact statements with him present.

“You did so many bad things to me, not once, but over and over again… I know everything you did, it was not my fault, and one day I won't feel guilty," said one of the victims.

FOX 26 is protecting the victims’ identities because they were just children when they were molested.

At times Castleberry nodded his head and even shed tears as his victims addressed him.

“I felt like it was my fault, because you told me over and over again it was, I believed you, I was weak, I was small, I was a child,” said a second victim. “You are a monster… you took my innocence, you took my childhood,” she said.

The sentences will be served consecutively, meaning Castleberry won’t be eligible for parole for 80 years.

Prosecutors presented graphic testimony in the sentencing phase of Castleberry's trial. He photographed the sex-acts. It was evidence the defense couldn’t overcome. “We expected the liklihood of a result like this given the evidence in this case," said defense attorney Eric Little.

Castleberry’s ex-wife read a prepared statement thanking the court. “We are all very happy with Judge Fine's punishment and thankful he is taking this monster off our streets," said Kimberly Castleberry.

During the eighth day of the trial on Friday, prosecutors called one of four victims that Castleberry assaulted between 1984 and 2005. The witness, now a young woman, described the first time that Castleberry sexually assaulted her when she was 12 years old.

The victim said Castleberry assaulted her many more times and that the trauma of those incidents continues to affect her personally.

Castleberry was given a chance to address the court, but declined.

Now the women, their lives once ruined, will try to pick up the pieces as move forward.

"I have to forgive you because I don't want to go on carrying you on my shoulders for the rest of my life," said a third victim.