A former Big Spring detective was sentenced today to 20 years in prison after being convicted of indecency with a child, sexual performance, indecent with a child by exposure and attempted indecency with a child by exposure. In his hearing, Howard County District Attorney Hardy Wilkerson said that Former Detective Joel Rojo of Big Springs will have to spend at least 10 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. All four charges carried their own sentence with 20 years being the longest for a total of 52, but all four sentences will be served concurrently.
The crimes were brought to the attention of Big Spring Police Department in 2015 when the department was informed of several allegations involving former detective Rojo. It wasn't until April 12, 2016, a grand jury of the 118th District Court issued five criminal indictments and he was immediately placed on administrative leave. Less than a year later, Rojo was arrested. The court documents reveal that Rojo took three victims, all aged between 12 and 14, and tried to convince them to expose themselves in a secluded parking lot. Rojo also tried to take photos of a child's private area during an investigation.
It is a shame when a person in a position of authority who people are supposed to be able to rely on to make them safe do just the opposite and harm them. It took two years but finally Rojo has been sentenced and will await transportation to prison sometime in the next ninety days.
Source: http://sanangelolive.com/news/crime/2017-08-14/former-big-spring-detective-sentenced-20-years-prison
