A Hutto man is the first person to fall under new state rules that
allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty in certain child sexual abuse cases.
The Texas House of Representatives adopted Jessica's Law less than a year ago. The law is named for Jessica Lunsford, a Florida girl who was raped and murdered in 2005. The legislation is designed to punish sex offenders who prey on children and track them after their release.
Alfredo Enriquez, 35, has been indicted on charges that fall under the new law. He's been indicted on 11 counts of sexual
abuse against a relative.
"Jessica's Law really identifies the worst of the worst in terms of sexual molesters," Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley said.
Bradley helped draft Texas' version of Jessica's Law, which went into effect Sept. 1, 2007.
"It just so happened the first case we indicted was here in Williamson County," Bradley said.
Under the new law, a perpetrator who commits continued sexual abuse over a span of more than 30 days will face harsher punishment - anywhere from 25 years to the death penalty. Jessica's Law prohibits violators from being released on parole.
That's something Patty Connor with the Williamson County Hope Alliance hopes will break the cycle of violence.
"Hardly ever is there one perpetration. If they've perpetrated once, they're going to do it again. It's incredibly important to get them off the streets," Connor said.
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Jessica's Law
Alfredo Enriquez faces 11 counts of molesting an undgerage girl related to him.
 
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Enriquez remains behind bars at the Williamson County jail for allegedly molesting a child numerous times over an eight-month span.
He's being held on a $500,000 bond. His court date has not yet been set.
"This case, really, in terms of legal significance, is not a big deal," Enriquez' attorney Bristol Myers said.
Myers said his client is innocent and hopefully won't be the first Texan convicted under the new law. Bradley hopes otherwise.
"These are horrible, horrible descriptions of crimes that are left to be prosecuted under Jessica's Law. These cases, if proven in front of a jury, will deserve the punishment they will receive," Bradley said.
Texas joins 44 other states working on enacting a version of Jessica's Law.
