A 52-year-old McAllen man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he was convicted of sexually abusing two children over a period of nearly two years, according to a news release from the office of Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney Toribio “Terry” Palacios.

Julio Cesar Valdez was found guilty on multiple counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child, and indecency with a child by contact, the Thursday news release states.

The investigation into the abuse started in January 2025 after the McAllen Police Department received a report of Valdez sexually assaulting the two children.

“During the trial, jurors heard testimony regarding Valdez’s relationship with the family and how he used the trust placed in him while caring for the children,” the news release said. “The evidence also showed that Valdez took steps to keep the children from disclosing the abuse and demonstrated the lasting trauma experienced by the children and their family.”

The jury sentenced Valdez to 25 years for each of the two continuous sexual abuse counts, five years for each of the two aggravated sexual assault counts, and two years for each of the three indecency counts. All sentences will run concurrently.

“The jury has delivered justice and sent a clear message that our community will not tolerate those who take advantage of the most vulnerable members of our community,” Palacios said in a statement. “Our office will continue to hold accountable those who prey upon children and violate the trust placed in them.”