WAXAHACHIE

An Ellis County jury sentenced a 57-year-old Waxahachie man Monday to 150 years in prison without parole for sexually abusing multiple girls under the age of 12.

It took a jury of his peers all of 46 minutes to convict Regino Salinas, 57, of Waxahachie, Friday, Feb. 2 on two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a young child. The same jury returned to the 40th Judicial District Court and delivered two 75-year prison sentences without parole to Judge Bob Carroll.

The sentences will run consecutively, meaning the second 75-year punishment would not begin until the first finishes in 2093. Salinas will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, Salinas began sexually abusing multiple girls between the ages of six and 12 while they visited his home around July 2010.

The investigation into Salinas' actions began after one of the victims told her teacher about the abuse on her birthday in 2016. She and four other victims then recounted their experiences with Salinas to a forensic interviewer with the Ellis County Child Advocacy Center, commonly referred to as The Gingerbread House.

During closing arguments, Assistant Ellis County and District Attorney Russell Jones asked jurors to stand up for "the most vulnerable members of our community."

In a statement issued by the office of the Ellis County and District Attorney, Jones and fellow prosecutor Habon Mohamed thanked Waxahachie Police Detective Elizabeth Glidewell for her work on the case.

"Her work and the work of others in our law enforcement community ensures that victims of sexual abuse in Ellis County receive the justice they deserve," the statement reads. It also notes the office hopes the sentence "begins a healing process for Salinas' victims. This sentence again sends a clear message that sexual abuse of children will not be tolerated, excused, or ignored in Ellis County."

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Travis M. Smith, @Travis5mith

(469) 517-1470