SAN ANTONIO -- The second and final Ochoa brother was charged in a triple murder was sentenced on Thursday, but the capital murder charges were dismissed for both Baron and Conrad Ochoa.
In 2011, 10-year-old Sammie Ochoa, her mother Rebecca Gonzalez and roommate, Pam Wenske, were found stabbed to death inside their burned down home. Sammie's grandmother Suzy Bianchi-Peters said that before Sammie's death, Sammie said she was sexually abused by her uncle Baron and her father, Conrad.
Investigators said they believed the two brothers committed the crimes to stop Sammie from going forward to authorities.
Bianchi-Peters said the prosecution decided to not pursue the death penalty and worked out a plea deal to lesser charges. On Thursdsay, Baron was sentenced to 55 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to continuous sexual abuse of a child and indecent sexual performance by a child.
"He's been held for some of his actions and what I want may not necessarily be viewed by society as justice," Bianchi-Peters said. "The devastation he helped create can never be undone. 55 years is nothing."
On January 15, Conrad was sentenced to prison for possession of child pornography.
"Definitely less than what I wanted," Bianchi-Peters noted. "He plead no contest to a full 10 years. He is eligible for parole in the near future."
Bianchi-Peters said no amount of years in prison or a death penalty will change what happened, but said children are safe with the Ochoa brothers behind bars.
"Child sex abuse will never end. But we can sure put a hell of a dent in it," Bianchi-Peters said. "It's not just up to child protective services, SAPD or teachers or counselors to report these things. It's up to every single citizen to hold themselves accountable for children being injured in this manner."
