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Stafford Zimmerman bids farewell in final State of Sugar Land event man sentenced to 40 years for sexual abuse of a child By Ken Fountain
KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
In a highly produced program, outgoing Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman gave his final State of the City address last week. Zimmerman, who has held the mayor’s seat since 2016 and served on the City Council for four years before that, is term-limited and so cannot seek reelection. For the first time, the annual event, hosted by the Fort Bend County Chamber of Commerce, was held at the Smart Financial Center rather than the Sugar Land Marriott hotel. Attendees might not have known the reason for the venue change until they made their way
Staff Reports A Stafford man pleaded guilty to Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child on February 18 and was sentenced to 40 years in prison in an agreement with prosecutors, according to a news release from the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office. William Rigoberto Gonzalez, 45, was charged with abusing and impregnating his child victim in 2020. According to lead prosecutor Elizabeth Howard, an investigation by the Houston and Stafford Police Departments revealed that Gonzalez Cardona sexually abused his female victim at a residence in Stafford in August 2020. As a result of the sexual abuse, the victim became pregnant and, at 13 years old, delivered a healthy baby. Following the birth, Gonzalez Cardona agreed to a paternity test which confirmed he was the father of the child. “The defendant took advantage and exploited a young, vulnerable child for his own desires,” Howard stated. “Investigators recognized that vulnerability and gave courage to a young girl and her mother to bring her abuser to justice. With that partnership, the truth was finally revealed, and a dangerous predator was caught.” Gonzalez Cardona was prosecuted in the 268 th District Court before Associate Judge Craig Priesmeyer. Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child is a first-degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Gonzalez Cardona must serve half of his sentence before being considered for parole. “Forty years is a long sentence, especially considering this defendant will be 65 years old before parole can even be considered. And that sentence is deserving for his heinous acts,” District Attorney Brian Middleton said in the release. “If you are a predator, intent on preying on the most vulnerable in our community – you have been warned. We will come for you, and we will be relentless when we catch you.”
William Rigoberto Gonzalez, 45, of Stafford, pleaded guilty in February to Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Courtesy Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office
inside the massive auditorium to see the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra on the stage. As people found their way to the seat, the orchestra played works from such diverse composers as Antonio Vivaldi, George Gerschwin, Aaron Copland, Nikolai RimskyKorsakov and even the Swedish supergoup ABBA. The musical theme of the event continued with a video in which members of the orchestra described the importance of working together as a team and their role in the community. Akin to the classical tradition of “variations on a theme,” it continued in the main body of the speech, given in tandem by Zimmerman and City Manager Mike Goodrum.
“Our city’s progress is built on the foundations laid by those who came before us. While we honor that legacy, we also understand the importance of adapting and moving forward,” Zimmerman said has he opened the address. “Like an orchestra, each of us plays a part in shaping our community’s future, ensuring that our work today is relevant and meaningful for future generations.” “No single instrument alone can bring music to life, but each of us plays a part in creating something extraordinary,” Goodrum said. Together, Zimmerman and
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With the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra playing behind him, outgoing Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman offers his closing thoughts at last week’s State of the City event. Photo by Ken Fountain
MAKING A MOVE
A member of the dance company Urban Souls performs on the basketball court of Sugar Land’s Mayfield Park during the official unveiling of a new court mural on Friday. For more photos from the event, see “Local Culture” on Page 2. Photo by Ken Fountain
Hightower Lady Canes find pride despite championship loss Community Reports A loss in the state championship game March 1 for the Hightower High School girls basketball team ended a stellar season, but even in defeat there was pride, promise for the future and a full-circle moment for the coach. “The way we fought and the way we climbed and clawed, I can’t help but be proud of this team,” Lady Canes Coach Jasmine Brewer said in a Fort Bend County press release. The team lost 51-42 to Fort Worth Boswell. Brewer knew exactly how her girls felt playing for the championship trophy and coming up short. She had been in the same position in 2010 when she played at Hightower and her team made it to the big game too. “I remember as a senior being exactly where they are and the news conference afterwards,” Brewer said as she and two of her players fielded media questions. “It’s special for me and that’s why I wanted to come back and coach high school ball.” At the game in San Antonio cheering on the Lady Canes was FBISD Assistant Athletic Director Deb Mize. She was Brewer’s coach on the 2010 High-
The Hightower Lady Canes pose with their second-place trophy after their state championship loss to Fort Worth Boswell. Courtesy Fort Bend ISD
tower team. “It came as no surprise to me that she led her team on a historic state championship run,” Mize said. “I saw Jasmine’s drive, work ethic and passion first-hand when she was a student athlete in my program 15 years ago.” Brewer remains grateful to her former coach “because she continues to believe in me, and I’m also grateful to
our community, my Hightower community and the Missouri City community for their constant support,” she said. The Lady Canes ended the season with only five losses and had been undefeated since early December. This was the first time since 2019 the team made it to the 6A championship game. “Several key players are returning next year – and they’re hungry,”
Brewer said. “Getting this far makes us want to get back here,” she said. “We didn’t get here because we had a good day. We didn’t get here because we had a good week or a good month. It’s a day-byday, everyday thing that carries us all the way through the season and then into the postseason. We want to get back here.”