A Harris County jury has convicted Francisco Hinojosa of continuous sexual abuse of a child, prompting the survivor and her mother to warn that other children may also have been victimised.
Hinojosa was found guilty in a Harris County courtroom at the end of August. Court documents show that the case involved allegations of aggravated sexual assault against a child under 14, arising from incidents in 2018 and 2019.
Family fears other victims may come forward
After the verdict, the survivor’s mother said Hinojosa had regularly appeared at public gatherings across the Houston area, including a skating rink and youth sports tournaments.
She said he attended events linked to his sister’s travelling baseball and softball team and sometimes stayed in hotels used by families taking part in tournaments.
“So there’s a possibility that there could be other victims,” she said.
The family is now urging anyone who believes Hinojosa may have abused them or their child to contact the Houston Police Department.
Survivor describes decision to report abuse
The survivor said she eventually told her father after struggling with the emotional impact of the abuse.
“I was just tired, going through all the pain that Frankie put me through,” she said. “And so I finally built up the courage and told my dad.”
Her mother said the consequences had continued long after the abuse, describing nightmares and ongoing trauma.
“He took her childhood, and I’m the one who sat up with her through the nightmares,” she said. “She’s still going through trauma.”
The mother added that she intended to continue pursuing justice for her daughter following the conviction.
Hinojosa is seeking to appeal the verdict, according to Harris County court records.
