Less than two years after an infant girl died of apparent starvation in Mesquite, the child’s parents pleaded guilty to a lesser crime and received lengthy prison sentences.
Court records reviewed by CBS News Texas showed that Destiny Avila, now about 25 years old, and Leon Johnson, now about 24 years old, pleaded guilty to injury of a child with intentional severe bodily injury. Both were sentenced on June 8, 2026, and began their prison sentences.
Avila was sentenced to 44 years in prison, with credit for 538 days of time already served in jail. Leon Johnson was handed a 45-year prison sentence with credit for 530 days served in jail…