On Aug. 6, 400th District Court Judge Maggie Jaramillo-Perez ordered 56-year-old Martin Thomas Williamson of Sugar Land to spend the rest of his days in prison for two sexual offenses committed against children.

Over the course of two days, prosecutors Melissa Munoz, Claire Andresen, and Craig Priesmeyer presented evidence to the court during a pre-trial hearing that an undercover officer in Australia made contact with Williamson via the internet in 2016 and that Williamson provided the officer with homemade child pornography.

The Houston Metro Area Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including investigators with the Department of Homeland Security, the Sugar Land Police Department, and the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, located and rescued the child in the images, who was under the age of fourteen.

They also located thousands of images of child pornography on digital devices belonging to Williamson. The child was taken for a forensic interview at the Fort Bend County Children’s Advocacy Center, where she provided details of the sexual abuse.

After two days of testimony, the defendant decided to plead guilty to the first-degree felony of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child and received a prison sentence of 31 years in agreement with prosecutors. Williamson is not eligible for parole on this charge and must serve each day of his sentence. Williamson also pled guilty to the second-degree felony of Possession of Child Pornography with Intent to Promote and received an agreed sentence of 15 years.

Child abuse prosecutor Claire Andresen commended the quick response of law enforcement. “This case exemplifies the importance of our local Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Without their hard work, this defendant would have continued to abuse this child not only for his own sexual desires, but for the gratification of sex offenders worldwide.”

Lead prosecutor Melissa Munoz stated, “No child deserves to be abused and objectified in this manner. Since this defendant is not eligible for parole, he will never again have the opportunity to abuse another child.”

Munoz also praised the child victim for her bravery, stating, “It is never easy to come forward about abuse, and she has shown strength and courage throughout this entire process.”

District Attorney Brian Middleton proudly noted, “Many people are responsible for the successful resolution of the cases against Martin Williamson. I commend the many detectives who responded and secured critical evidence in this case. And we are so fortunate to have Child Advocates of Fort Bend to provide forensic interviews of children, therapy for them, and other services to children in our community.”