April 15, 2015 - A Shelby County jury came to a verdict of 'Guilty' following an hour and a half of 
deliberation time in the case of the State of Texas versus Juan Merino (Case Number 14-CR-19231) in the 123rd District Court with Judge Charles "Brick" Dickerson presiding. The trial lasted for three days. Merino was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, first degree felony, with a maximum punishment of 99 years which would require a minimum of 80% of the sentence before the 51-year-old Merino would be eligible for parole.
After being arrested on April 21st of last year, Merino was convicted today, April 15, 2015 at 5:30pm for the aggravated sexual assault of a then 9-year-old child which occurred on or about the date of March 25, 2007.
According to the closing statement by State's attorney, Shelby County District Attorney Kenneth Florence, Merino sexually assaulted the victim who did at the time report the incident; however, the identity of Merino was unknown. In 2014, the victim who is now 17 years old saw Merino at the Center High School athletic track and recognized him. She ran from the field; however, before leaving she took a photo of the vehicle Merino left in and reported it to the Sheriff's Department. With the information of the license plate, law enforcement were able to identify the suspect to be Juan Merino.
The next phase of trial is the punishment phase which is scheduled for 9am tomorrow morning, April 16, 2015.
Shelby County Today has chosen to not release the name of the victim at this time.
(Update): The jury reconvened on the morning of Thursday, April 16, 2015 in the Shelby County 123rd Judicial District Court with Judge Dickerson presiding. At 11:22am the jury entered the jury room for deliberation once they were provided with the penalty instructions.
At 11:50am the jury returned to the courtroom and Judge Dickerson read their decision as well as giving his ruling. As a result, Merino received 60 years confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice System and a $10,000 fine.
He will be required to serve a minimum of 30 years of his sentence.
