posted May 14 -

A 33-year-old Beeville man faces eight possible life sentences if he is convicted of having sex with three young girls later this year.

Felix Tovar III was indicted in eight counts of sexual contact with girls four, seven and nine years old in February of this year. All eight counts were enhanced to a punishment range of from 15-99 years or life in prison.

According to investigators with the Bee County Sheriff’s Office, Tovar engaged in sexual activity with the girls on Feb. 16 and Feb. 27. He was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child for the Feb. 27 incidents. The other counts all stemmed from alleged sexual activity with a child on Feb. 16. Three of the remaining counts were for indecency with a child-contact, and three were on charges of indecency with a child-exposure.

The charges were enhanced because Tovar had a previous felony conviction on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle on Nov. 1, 1993, in Bee County.

District Judge M.E. “Mike” Welborn set bond at $25,000.

Tovar also was indicted on a charge of burglary of a habitation in a separate indictment. Although that offense is normally a second degree felony, punishable by a prison term of from two to 20 years and a fine of as much as $10,000, the charge was enhanced to a first degree felony because of the 1993 felony conviction.

If convicted of the burglary offense, Tovar faces a prison sentence of from five to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of as much as $10,000.

That indictment alleged that Tovar entered the home of a local woman on Feb. 10 without her consent.

Bond for that indictment was $3,000.

Others indicted Thursday by Bee County grand jurors included:

•Jessica Ignacia Esparza on a charge of delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine, one-four grams in a drug-free zone.

The charge is a first degree felony.

Deputies accused the defendant of having delivered the narcotic on Oct. 18, 2007, within 1,000 feet of the Beeville Independent School District’s Adult Education facility at 309 N. Jackson St.

Bond was $2,000.

•David Ray Jr. in a three-count indictment on charges of aggravated assault, bodily injury with a deadly weapon. The charge is a second degree felony punishable by a prison term of from two to 20 years and a fine of as much as $10,000.

Beeville police charged Ray with the offense in connection with an Aug., 7, 2007, incident in which he hit a woman with his fist in a manner that was capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. The other two counts indicated that Ray also kicked the victim with steel-toed boots and slammed her head into a floor.

Bond was $7,500.

•John Michael Campos in a two-count indictment on charges of retaliation, a third degree felony, and engaging in organized criminal activity, a second degree felony. The third degree felony is punishable by a prison term of from two to 10 years and a fine of $10,000.

According to the charge filed by Beeville Police Department investigators, Campos threatened Patrolman Adelvino Puga, saying, “I’ll put a bullet in your head.” In the second count of the indictment, police allege that Campos threatened Puga by saying he would get a well-known prison gang “on your ass, bitch.”

Bond was $6,000.

•Timoteo Briseno Diaz on a charge of assault on a public servant.

The charge is a third degree felony.

Sheriff’s office investigators accused the defendant of kicking Deputy Brandon Burdick as the officer was taking him to jail during an incident on Jan. 18.

Bond was $2,000.

•Juanita Reyes Perez on a charge of tampering with physical evidence, a third degree felony.

Deputies alleged that the defendant destroyed a “Breakfast on a Bun” on Jan. 5 with the intent to impair its availability as evidence in an investigation to determine if the food had been contaminated.

Bond was $4,000.

•John Richard Guerra on a charge of delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine, less than one gram in a drug-free zone.

The charge is a third degree felony.

Police alleged that Guerra delivered the drug on Aug. 26, 2007, within 1,000 feet of the A.C. Jones High School campus at 1902 N. Adams St.

Bond was $2,500.

•Candelario Rios on a charge of tampering with physical evidence, a third degree felony.

State authorities claimed the suspect of having eaten a marijuana cigarette during an encounter on Oct. 20, 2007.

Bond was $3,000.

•John Lucas Salas on a charge of bail jumping, a third degree felony. The charge was filed by district court bailiff Bill Lazenby after the defendant failed to show up for a scheduled court appearance on April 15.

Bail was $20,000.

•Juanita Hernandez on a charge of tampering with a governmental record. The charge is a third degree felony.

State authorities alleged that the defendant failed to include on applications for governmental assistance filed on July 12, 2005, Oct. 31, 2006, and on March 29, 2007, that she had a male member of her household.

Bond was $1,500.

•Michael Edward Martin on a charge of possession of marijuana, four ounces to five pounds. The charge is a state jail felony punishable by a term of from six months to two years in a state jail facility and a fine of as much as $10,000.

Deputies claimed that Martin had the drug in his possession on Feb. 25.

•Roel Benitez, also known as Roy Rosas, on a charge of theft, $1,500-$20,000. The charge is a state jail felony.

Deputies claimed that the defendant took a number of tools including ladders and expensive welding equipment, from Waste Quip on March 26, 2007.

Bond was $4,000.

•Joshua Dwayne Bell, on a charge of criminal mischief, $1,500-$20,000.

Police alleged that Bell destroyed two windows in a motor vehicle on Feb. 24 by kicking them with his feet.

Bond was $2,000.

•Jon David Gonzales on a charge of possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, less than one gram, a state jail felony.

BPD officers claimed the defendant had the drug in his possession on Aug. 26, 2007.

•Rita L. Perez on a charge of driving while intoxicated with a passenger under the age of 15 in the vehicle. The charge is a state jail felony.

Highway Patrol Trooper Santiago Montez filed the charge against the defendant in connection with a Jan. 4 incident.

Bond was $1,500.