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Hays County jury convicts Josue Salinas Jr.; judge imposes two life terms
Josue Salinas Jr. was convicted of three child sexual abuse offenses and sentenced to two life terms in Hays County. The cases followed disclosures beginning in 2021 and later reports involving additional alleged victims.
A Hays County jury convicted Josue Salinas Jr., 61, of three child sexual abuse offenses on Monday, Oct. 19, and he was sentenced that day to two life terms, the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office said.
The convictions were for continuous sexual abuse of children, super aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child. Under Texas law, the super aggravated charge carries a minimum 25-year prison term with no possibility of parole. The district attorney’s office said Salinas is not eligible for parole on the continuous sexual abuse or super aggravated sexual assault convictions.
The investigation began in spring 2021, after a 4-year-old child disclosed abuse to someone, according to the office. During that period, a 5-year-old also reported abuse by Salinas. Kyle police opened the investigation, and Salinas was arrested on sexual abuse charges in August 2021 before being released on bond, the office said.
In spring 2025, a 6-year-old reported being molested by Salinas in 2024. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office learned of that report while investigating a separate incident. Also in 2025, an adult reported that Salinas had molested her when she was 12, about 25 years earlier.
The convictions and sentences followed disclosures spanning several years and investigations involving law enforcement agencies in Hays and Travis counties. The district attorney’s office announced the verdict and sentencing Wednesday, Oct. 21.