GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas – A Hitchcock man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the continuous sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl, abuse that prosecutors say began when she was just five years old.
The investigation began in 2020 when Hitchcock police responded to a domestic disturbance and learned that Michael Lynn Almanza, 43, had been sexually assaulting the child since she was 5 years old.
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Detectives later discovered he had also abused the girl’s sister.
According to investigators, the abuse happened when the family lived in Galveston. Almanza assaulted the children in their home when their mother was incapacitated or not present, and in at least one case, inside a car while teaching one of the girls to drive.
Almanza’s trial began Dec. 1, 2025. Prosecutors Tyler Alley and Kyle Vance presented testimony from both victims, their mother, Galveston police Detective Amanda Smith, a forensic interviewer with the Galveston County Child Advocacy Center, and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.
Prosecutors also detailed evidence that Almanza tattooed one of the victims on her breast.
Almanza did not take the stand during the trial.
In closing arguments, Alley told jurors the victims had no motive to lie and that the consistency and detail in their accounts made clear what happened. After roughly two hours of deliberation Thursday afternoon, the jury returned a guilty verdict.
During the punishment phase, prosecutors showed Almanza had a prior prison sentence for burglary and additional assault convictions.
Because Texas law does not allow parole for continuous sexual abuse of a child, Almanza must serve the full 50-year sentence.