BEAUMONT, Texas — A jury found a Beaumont man guilty on Thursday of three counts of sexual abuse of a child and one count of indecency with a child.
Emmanuel Perez, 37, was accused of abusing a 12-year-old victim who made an outcry about six incidents, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Perez was sentenced to 70 years concurrently in prison for each of the three counts of sexual abuse of a child. He was also sentenced to 20 years behind bars for the one count of indecency with a child. The 20-year sentence will not begin until after the 70-year sentences are served.
Perez is also required to pay a $10,000 fine for each charge, court records show.
Jury selection began on Monday, and opening statements began Tuesday.
RELATED: Jury selection beginning soon for trial of man accused of sexually abusing 12-year-old child
Tuesday opening statements
The prosecutor started opening statements on Tuesday by speaking about all of the law enforcement, state officials, and professionals the young victim had to talk to after making an outcry.
She also said the victim will give testimony during the trial and that children should be believed when they say someone has made them uncomfortable.
"When we hear a child talk about an adult being sexual with them, we should believe them,” the prosecutor said. “There’s no statute of limitations on a sexual assault of a child.”
The defense argued that the allegations the victim made were made months after the alleged event, and their allegations were told differently to different people.
The defense also said there is no proof of anything happening, only the word of one witness.
The prosecution objected to this statement by saying one witness is sufficient evidence to prove the allegation. Judge John Stevens sustained the objection.
The defense said he agreed with the prosecution that allegations made by a child should be investigated, but also said this is an unproven allegation.
“Don’t be surprised when we just hear the same allegation repeated,” the defense said.
Perez was indicted on these three counts back on June 24, 2020.
The second day of trial, Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Jurors spent most of Wednesday's trial listening to tough testimony as the young accuser took the stand and gave her account of what the defendant did to her.
She answered questions from the prosecution, then the defense attorney began asking her about what he said were inconsistencies in her testimony.
12News could not be more specific due to the nature of the testimony.
The trial will resume Thursday morning before Judge John Stevens.
The third day of trial March 17, 2022
A jury in the Criminal District Court before Judge John Stevens this afternoon found Emmanuel Perez guilty on all four counts:
•Guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He was sentenced to 70 years in prison and a $10,000 fine
•Guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He was sentenced to 70 years in prison and a $10,000 fine
•Guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He was sentenced to 70 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
•Guilty of indecency with a child. He was sentenced to 20 years and a $10,000 fine.
Perez will serve all 70-year sentences at the same time, but the 20-year sentence is consecutive. The 20-year sentence will not begin until after he has served the 70-year concurrent sentences.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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