BEAUMONT, Texas — A Jefferson County jury on Friday found 43-year-old David Allen Tovar guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony that carries a punishment range of 25 years to life in prison.

Tovar, who was previously convicted in 2002 of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, has been on trial all week in Judge John Stevens’ courtroom. Jurors returned the guilty verdict just minutes before 5 p.m.

This marks the second child sexual assault conviction for Tovar, who is already a registered sex offender.

The punishment phase of the trial is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday, when jurors will hear additional evidence before deciding Tovar’s sentence.

Tovar, born April 14, 1982, was taken into custody following the verdict.

With the verdict in hand, Judge

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