https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Ex-deputy-for-Harris-County-Sheriff-sentenced-for-12976660.php
Ex-Harris County deputy sentenced for "horrific" child pornography
By Gabrielle Banks
Updated 7:23 am CDT, Friday, June 8, 2018
Andrew Sustaita Jr., a former Harris County Sheriff's deputy is shown in Harris County Criminal Court, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Sustaita, a 6-year law enforcement veteran, is accused of producing pornography depicting bestiality and is facing three more felonies after police said a forensic search of his home computer turned up more than 200 images of child pornography, including images of sexual contact with a dog.
Andrew Sustaita Jr., a former Harris County Sheriff's deputy is shown in Harris County Criminal Court, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Sustaita, a 6-year law enforcement veteran, is accused of producing pornography
Photo: Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle
A former Harris County Sheriff's deputy was given a lengthy prison sentence Thursday in a child pornography case that a veteran Houston federal judge called "one of the most disagreeable cases" he had seen on the bench.
Andrew C. Sustaita Jr., 31, a former patrol officer, stood handcuffed in an orange jail uniform and rubber shoes, eyes downcast, as U.S. District Judge Sim Lake ordered him into the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for more than 27 years. The judge added a lifetime of supervision after Sustaita is released from prison, and no contact with children without the express permission of a probation officer.
FULL STORY: Ex-Harris County deputy sentenced for "horrific" child pornography
The judge said the images found on Sustaita's electronic devices of babies and children being sexually abused were "some of most horrific" he'd seen. The case also involved multiple lewd videos of a child who had been an invited guest for a sleepover at the defendant's home, which the judge called particularly troubling.
"This was not an easy case, in fact, it's one of the most disagreeable cases I've ever presided over," Lake said.
The devastating emotional impact to the child victim and her family became apparent when the girl's mother addressed the ex-deputy for several minutes before a packed courtroom, reading a statement that framed Sustaita, a family friend, as the personification of evil, a monster hiding in plain sight.
"These victims can't escape what he did to them," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Zack, explaining that it's impossible to stem the damage for children in the videos, who could be exposed on the Internet for many years.
Sustaita also addressed the judge and made a tearful statement, expressing remorse for his actions, the impact on his family, former colleagues in law enforcement and the victims. He said he also feared what's to come for him.
His attorney Nathan Hennigan said after the hearing that his client is truly sorry.
"He fully accepted the heinous nature of what he did and understands the damage he caused," Hennigan said. "Andy is extremely remorseful to the victim, the victim's family, to his own family, to the law enforcement community, to everyone who his actions have reached."
Sustaita pleaded guilty Mar. 15 to possessing and producing child pornography images.
Gabrielle Banks covers federal court for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter or send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com.