A Lubbock County man was convicted Wednesday of enticement and attempted enticement of his 11-year-old niece.
Thirty two-year-old John David Martinez of Shallowater was indicted in August. After a day and a half of trial, a federal jury deliberated for 15 minutes before finding him guilty.
Martinez initiated a text chain with his 11-year-old niece in July 2018, according to evidence presented at trial.
Over the course of 7,702 text messages, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas says he bullied the victim into agreeing to have sex with Martinez, who was 31-years-old at the time.
Authorities say the child's babysitter spotted the messages on her phone, and law enforcement was able to intervene before Martinez could molest the girl.
He now faces a potential sentence of up to life in federal prison. His sentencing date has not yet been set.
