LIBERTY, Texas, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Houston-area police have apprehended a man who fled his trial before being convicted of raping an 11-year-old girl.
Eric McGowen, 20, had been accused of participating in the gang rape of a young girl. During his trial in August, McGowen, who was out on bail, ran away during a recess before his accuser was to testify against him. The victim, referred to as Regina, now 13, told jurors McGowen was the man recording her repeated sexual abuse and could be heard in the cellphone video laughing and shouting expletives as another man appeared to have anal sex with her, the Houston Chronicle reported.
The videos of the girl's assault -- she told police she was attacked by as many as 20 men in a 10-hour span -- were spread around her Liberty, Texas, school.
A jury convicted McGowen in abstention and sentenced him to 99 years in prison without parole.
Three other men accused in the gang rape accepted plea deals rather than go to trial. In total, 20 people have been charged in the girl's repeated sexual abuse.
