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Groves man sentenced to 45 years in prison, found guilty of continuous sexual abuse of child

Michael Lawrence Pousson's first trial in May ended in a hung jury.

BEAUMONT, Texas —  A Groves man is sentenced to 45 years in prison after he was found guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child.

A Jefferson County jury found Michael Lawrence Pousson guilty of the continuous sexual abuse of a child charge on Friday morning.

The punishment phase of the trail started right after he was found guilty. 

Pousson faced 25 to 99 years or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine and they gave him 45 years.

 He will have to register as a sex offender if he gets out.

He will be at least 85 if he gets parole.

His trial has lasted most of the week with jury selection beginning on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 before Judge Raquel West in 252nd District Court.

Pousson previously stood trial on this charge in May 2023, but it ended in a hung jury.

He was accused of sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl more than 15 times over three years. 

A hung jury means that jurors were unable to reach a verdict. 

Credit: JCSO

The trial comes after a victim, who officials said was only seven years old at the time, made an outcry to police. The alleged assaults are said to have taken place starting November 2018 until August 2021.   

 The child was interviewed at the Garth House following the outcry. During the interview, the victim said she had been assaulted more than 15 times over a period of three years.

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