Man receives life in sexual assault of Texas girl

LIBERTY, Texas (AP) — A jury has sentenced a Texas man to life in prison for his role in the attack of an 11-year-old girl who authorities say was sexually assaulted by 20 males.

Jared Len Cruse was convicted of aggravated sexual assault earlier Wednesday in Liberty. His trial began Tuesday.

The 20-year-old Cruse had faced a minimum sentence of 25 years. He was the second person tried in the case.

The first person who went to trial, Eric McGowen, was convicted and sentenced in August to 99 years in prison.

Prosecutors say the girl, now 13, was sexually assaulted in 2010 on at least five occasions in Cleveland, about 45 miles northeast of Houston.

Six juveniles and six adults previously pleaded guilty in the case.