CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – A man who confessed to causing the death of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son has been sentenced to more than three decades in prison, nearly one year after the toddler’s tragic death.

Enrique Lopez, 22, pleaded guilty to felony injury to a child in connection with the February 2023 death of Augustine “Augie” Valencia. The sentencing was handed down by a judge on January 8, sending Lopez to prison for 35 years, with credit for time already served.

The events unfolded on the morning of February 11, 2023, when Augie’s mother, Emma Torres, left her two young sons in Lopez’s care as she attended a court hearing. According to case records, Torres and Lopez began arguing after she departed, exchanging heated phone calls and a series of text messages throughout the morning.

Phone records show that at 8:27 a.m., Torres ended a call with Lopez. Over the next hour, the communication between the two continued through sporadic texts, including a message from Lopez at 9:29 a.m. asking Torres to contact him when she was available. Between 8:50 and 9:29 a.m., Lopez tried unsuccessfully to reach Torres five times.

The situation escalated just before 11 a.m. when Lopez called emergency services, reporting that Augie was unresponsive and showing signs of severe distress. Paramedics arrived to find the child in cardiac arrest with extensive visible injuries, including a fractured skull, brain bleeding, and widespread bruising. Observers also noted bruising on the child’s abdomen that appeared to be recent.

Despite efforts to revive him, Augie was pronounced dead at 2 p.m. that day. Medical staff documented multiple injuries indicative of severe trauma, leading investigators to question Lopez’s version of events.

During police questioning, Lopez claimed he had bathed Augie before putting him to bed and discovered the child unresponsive about 20 minutes later. However, authorities noted inconsistencies in his account, specifically the absence of any signs that a bath had taken place and a dry tub at the scene.

Investigators determined that Lopez’s actions directly resulted in the injuries that caused the toddler’s death. Emma Torres, Augie’s mother, was arrested following the incident and charged with two counts of injury to a child by omission for leaving her children with Lopez. Those charges were eventually dropped.

The sentencing closes a grim chapter for the family and the community, who spent months awaiting justice in the case. Lopez will remain behind bars for decades as a result of his conviction, while Augie’s death continues to serve as a somber reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by young children.

Child abuse prevention advocates say the case highlights the critical importance of ensuring safe caretakers for vulnerable children, especially during times of family distress or discord. Officials encourage anyone concerned about a child’s safety to contact authorities to prevent similar tragedies.

Lopez’s prison term is expected to be served in full without eligibility for early release due to the severity of the offense.