Grand Jury Indicts Local Man for Child S*x Abuse Over Several Years

SAN ANGELO — Noe Fernandez, a 54-year-old San Angelo resident, faces a slew of charges after being indicted by a Tom Green County grand jury for alleged sexual abuse of a child spanning several years.

The indictment, handed down recently, charges Fernandez with three counts of Prohibited Sexual Conduct, three counts of Indecency with a Child by Sexual Contact, two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, and one count of Sexual Assault of a Child.

Court documents reveal disturbing details of the alleged abuse. The victim, now an adult, disclosed to authorities on January 3, 2024, that Fernandez initiated the abuse when she was just 15 years old, continuing until she reached the age of 22.

The victim's mother, speaking to authorities on January 4, 2024, expressed prior suspicions about the relationship between her daughter and Fernandez. However, the victim did not disclose the abuse until recently.

Further complicating the case, an investigator reportedly overheard Fernandez confess on January 10, 2024, to sexually abusing the victim back in January 28, 2017, when she was still a minor. Fernandez purportedly admitted that the abuse persisted into the victim's adulthood.

However, Fernandez's stance seemed to shift the following day. On January 11, 2024, he denied any sexual contact with the victim.

Authorities took action swiftly, arresting Fernandez on January 12, 2024. He was subsequently released on $200,000 bond on January 14, 2024. Fernandez's legal journey will culminate in a jury trial scheduled for September 16, 2024.