A Fort Worth man convicted of sexually abusing a 3-year-old girl has been given two life sentences.
Phillip Gene Hernandez, 28, was handed the sentences, without the possibility of parole, by a Tarrant County judge, the district attorney's office said.
A jury found Hernandez guilty after just nine minutes of deliberations Wednesday. Hernandez had chosen to have presiding Judge Louis Sturns decide his punishment.
According to prosecutors, the child told a family friend that Hernandez had hurt her bottom. The woman took the child to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, and an investigation ultimately found Hernandez had digitally penetrated the toddler and forced her to give him oral sex.
“No one in that courtroom will ever forget having to hear how a 3-year-old demonstrated oral sex on this defendant,” said prosecutor Eric Nickols. “The only person who wasn’t affected by it was him. He will have the rest of his life to reflect on it.”
Hernandez has numerous other charges pending against him, including robbery, burglary of a habitation, burglary of vehicles, felony theft and drug possession, among others, according to the DA's office.
Prosecutors said Hernandez went on a multi-day crime spree in November 2012 that included robbing a fast-food restaurant in Benbrook, burglarizing the same home twice and stealing two cars. When he was arrested, police found him in possession of methamphetamine, county officials said.
Hernandez has not yet faced trial for any of the other pending charges.
