TYLER, Texas — A Tyler man convicted of raping a woman in 2012 was sentenced to life in prison during a hearing Tuesday afternoon.
Vincente Zavaleta, 45, who was initially named a suspect in three separate sexual assaults that happened in 2003, 2012 and 2016, was convicted in connection with the Dec. 11, 2012 sexual assault following a jury's verdict back in June.
After hearing testimony and statements from witnesses and lawyers, 475th District Court Judge Taylor Heaton issued a life sentence along with a $10,000 fine. Zavaleta is also required to register as a sex offender for life.
Zavaleta was arrested in March 2023 on two counts of sexual assault and an aggravated kidnapping charge after DNA evidence connected him to the cold cases. The 2003 and 2016 charges were later dismissed in the interest of justice, according to court filings.
After comparing DNA from the attacks, a Texas Ranger confirmed all three were connected to the same person. They compared the DNA at the crime scene to Zavaleta's son, who voluntarily gave a DNA sample in October 2022.
That comparison showed DNA from panties at the crime scene and the son's DNA a high likelihood that the male DNA source from the panties were the biological father of Zavaleta's son, the affidavit said. '
During the sentencing hearing, the state said he deserves the maximum sentence under the law. Smith County Assistant District Attorney Richard Vance said people like Zavaleta are why women are afraid to walk at night.
Vance said that Zavaleta creates fear and preys upon the fear, adding that he should be locked up in a cage as long as possible.
Zavaleta's lawyer Courtney Warren said she, as a woman, has not felt scared while in a room with Zavaleta. She called him a pillar in his family's lives and a pillar in his community. She said there's no indication that he would not follow the rules of probation.
A sexual assault nurse, who treated the victim of the 2012 rape, testified that victim's exam was one of the worst patient cases she responded to.
One of his sons, Vincente Zavaleta Jr., called his father an upstanding member of society and he hadn't seen him be disrespectful to women. He said it's been an overwhelming struggle with his father gone in jail.
He said his father showed him how to be a man and he is the provider for the family.
Vincente Zavaleta was indicted again in March this year on aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping charges in connection with a 2016 incident. Those charges remain pending.
The sentencing hearing along with a request to recuse Judge Taylor Heaton from the case was set for Tuesday morning. However, Zavaleta's lawyer said over the phone her car broke down and she couldn't find a ride from Houston.
Heaton then ordered that his lawyer to find a ride and get to court for 2:15 p.m. Tuesday. She agreed with the deadline and the hearing resumed at that time.
Before the sentencing, a visiting judge also denied a motion to recuse Heaton as the judge for the case.
Warren, who has been previously found in contempt, was found in contempt again after choosing not to pay a fine that the judge ordered. Heaton told Warren the contempt issue would be given to Judge Alfonso Charles for the case to be assigned to a judge.