Urias found guilty

Jurors found 48-year-old Alonso Torres Urias guilty on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child Wednesday.

Urias sat steadfast as Judge Denn Whalen read the verdict in his 70th District Court. Jurors deliberated for a little more than an hour.

"Obviously we're disappointed with the decision, but we'll be working toward an appeal later," defense attorney Ray Fivecoat said.

Urias' trial started Tuesday. He was charged with three counts of indecency with a child in addition to the two aggravated sexual assault counts, but Assistant District Attorney Scott Layh accepted Fivecoat's motion to drop two of the indecency charges for lack of evidence.

Jurors will reconvene at 9 a.m. today for Urias' sentencing. He faces up to life in prison for each charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child younger than 14 and up to 20 years for the indecency count. Urias was arrested in July 2007 after his accuser went to police with a complaint about crimes that happened in April 2006.

He has been in the Ector County Detention Center since on a $50,000 bond.

The victim's family declined comment after Wednesday's proceedings. Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland also declined comment.

The accuser had lived with him and her grandmother on Odessa's west side for most of her life. 

The victim mother testified Tuesday that she moved her daughter out of Urias' home immediately after she was given a letter, written by her daughter, which accused Urias' of touching her inappropriately. The victim gave the letter to her grandmother first. 

Medical Center Hospital Safety and Security Director Brad Timmons said a medical exam of the accuser found physical evidence that was consistent with her outcry. That's what prompted Urias' arrest. 

Fivecoat argued in closing statements that the state's physical evidence wasn't enough to prove Urias' guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Fivecoat also pointed out discrepancies in the victim Tuesday testimony. She was the first to take the stand.

"There are times in cases where the state doesn't prove all the elements," he told jurors. "This is one of those cases."

Unusual trial

>> The jury in Alonso Torres Urias' trial is all male. District Judge Denn Whalen said Tuesday that this is the first time in 26 years that he's presided over a case with an all-male jury. Defense attorney Ray Fivecoat said it's not necessarily a good or a bad thing, just unusual.