Ricardo Torres, 34, was found guilty of sexual assaulting a girl beginning when she was 3 years old.

By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News
Published July 7, 2012
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TEXAS CITY — A jury sentenced a man to life in prison after convicting him of aggravated sexual assault of a child, an official said Friday.

A jury in Galveston’s 212th District Court deliberated less than 10 minutes Thursday before finding Ricardo Torres, 34, guilty, according to a statement from the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office.

The same jury sentenced Torres to life in prison and fined him $5,000 after hearing of his criminal history, including prison terms for burglary of a habitation and credit card abuse, the statement said.

Torres’ Thursday conviction stemmed from the sexual assault of a girl beginning when she was 3 years old. The abuse began in 2007 in Texas City and ended in 2010 with Torres’ arrest. The girl testified Torres would attack her when her mother was grocery shopping or at work, the statement said.

Prosecutor Kayla Allen told the jury the girl made several outcries to adults, but her young age limited her ability to vocalize the extent of the sexual abuse, the statement said.

Matthew Shawhan prosecuted the case with Allen. Attorney Mark Stevens represented Torres.

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Was this the mother's boyfriend?