Stafford man sentenced to 40 years in prison for abusing, impregnating 13-year-old girl

William Rigoberto Gonzalez Cardona (Wesley Wittig)

A man in the Stafford area received a lengthy prison sentence for horrific crimes that led to a 13-year-old girl becoming pregnant.

William Rigoberto Gonzalez Cardona, 45, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of a child and was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Feb. 18. The sentence is part of an agreement with prosecutors following charges of abusing and impregnating his child victim in 2020.

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An investigation by the Houston Police Department and the Stafford Police Department uncovered that Gonzalez Cardona sexually abused his female victim at a residence in Stafford in August 2020. The victim, who was 13 years old at the time, became pregnant and later delivered a healthy baby.

Gonzalez Cardona agreed to take a paternity test after the child’s birth, which confirmed he was the father.

“The defendant took advantage and exploited a young, vulnerable child for his own desires,” lead prosecutor Elizabeth Howard stated in a press release announcing Gonzalez Cardona’s sentence. “Investigators recognized that vulnerability and gave courage to a young girl and her mother to bring her abuser to justice. With that partnership, the truth was finally revealed, and a dangerous predator was caught.”

Aggravated sexual assault of a child is a first-degree felony in Texas, punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Gonzalez Cardona must serve half of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

District Attorney Brian Middleton said he wanted the sentence to serve as an example of the seriousness of this crime and the severe penalties for this type of disturbing behavior.

“If you are a predator, intent on preying on the most vulnerable in our community—you have been warned,” Middleton said. “We will come for you, and we will be relentless when we catch you.”


About the Author
Michael Horton headshot

Michael is a Kingwood native who loves visiting local restaurants and overreacting to Houston sports. He joined the KPRC 2 family in the spring of 2024. He earned his B.A. from Texas A&M University in 2022 and his M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023.