Verdict a Win in War Against Abuse

Sheriff Adrian Garcia—November 24th, 2011

Last week the men and women of the jury heard the facts of one of the most brutal and insidious cases of domestic abuse that we have seen in Harris County and returned a verdict of “guilty”. They sentenced the coward, Gregory Longoria, to 30 years in prison.

I applaud the hardworking public servants of District Attorney Patricia Lykos’ office and our investigators for their collective good work and effectiveness that allowed the jury to see the ridiculous defense for what it was – an all too common attempt to exploit the victim beyond the physical torture she endured and to take what little dignity she may have had left. The verdict of the jury was a loud voice for the victims of domestic abuse who often suffer incredible measures of violence, in this case it compared to medieval torture, and intimidation that causes them to abandon his/her better judgment for fear of their safety and that of their family.

With the jury’s verdict Harris County scored big against one of the most prevalent and underreported crimes that cause deep emotional and psychological wounds. Wounds which are often accompanied with physical scars that may never let the victim completely heal. However, it was the honorable members of the jury, members of our community, who spoke up for all victims of domestic abuse with their verdict. We need to continue to raise awareness of this type of crime and encourage victims to report the abuse before it is too late and remind them that, in Harris County, justice will be delivered for them.

Like Jacqueline Pontello, executive director at Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA), says “Domestic violence is a unique crime in which victim and perpetrator are bound together by a web of romantic and familial relationships and by emotions, chiefly fear and love. The victim’s inability in this case to stand against Gregory Longoria speaks volumes about the harm — and the fear—that he has imposed on her.”

Please help us end the cycle. For more information on how you can get involved in the fight against domestic violence or to seek help for yourself or someone you know, please visit the Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) website at www.avda-tx.org or call their hotline at 713-224-9911.

Originally published on the Cypress Creek Mirror