On Friday, December 5, 2025, Houston Public Media reported that Marvin Douglas Rotenberry, a municipal court judge in Galveston County, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The charges stem from alleged incidents occurring in the early 2000s involving two minors.
Rotenberry, 51, was taken into custody on November 25 and subsequently released from jail on November 26 after posting an $80,000 bond. Galveston County court documents indicate that the charges against him constitute first-degree felonies, which carry a potential sentence of life in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
According to a redacted probable cause affidavit obtained by Houston Public Media, the Santa Fe Police Department received a report on October 23 from an alleged victim accusing Rotenberry of multiple sexual assaults. The alleged victim stated the assaults occurred when they were between the ages of approximately 8 and 13. A second alleged victim was interviewed by police on November 11, stating that they were also allegedly sexually assaulted by Rotenberry between the ages of 6 and 10, according to the probable cause statement.
As of Friday morning, court records did not list a defense attorney for Rotenberry. Rotenberry holds positions as a municipal court judge for both Hitchcock and Bayou Vista. He previously served as a municipal court judge for Santa Fe, according to I45NOW.
City officials from Hitchcock informed Houston Public Media late Friday that all municipal court matters are currently on hold. Rotenberry’s role will be discussed at the upcoming Hitchcock City Council meeting scheduled for December 15. Furthermore, he has submitted a letter of resignation from his position in Bayou Vista, according to the mayor’s office.
Source: Houston Public Media
