Second man found guilty
Jared Len Cruse has been found guilty of participating in the gang rape of an 11-year-old Cleveland, Texas, girl.
The verdict was offered Wednesday by a jury in Liberty County. Cruse was sentenced to life in prison.
Cruse, now 20, is the second of 20 defendants to be tried for allegedly sexually assaulting the girl over the course of four months in 2010. Eric McGowan was the first; he was judged guilty and received a 99-year sentence. Seven juveniles received probation and six adults each receive sentences of 15 years after pleading guilty in exchange for plea deals.
In closing remarks defense attorney Steve Taylor pointed out testimony from the girl in which she answered "yes sir" to a question of whether she was a willing participant in the assaults.
