Reginald Clifton, 41
SAN MARCOS, Texas - A 41-year-old man will serve life sentences for multiple counts of sex crimes against teen girls in Hays County.
Big picture view:
Reginald Clifton, 41, will serve life sentences on four counts: sexual assault, sexual performance by a child, attempted aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated sexual assault.
A jury convicted Clifton on all four counts during a six-day trial.
What happened during the trial?
The backstory:
According to the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office, the crimes happened while Clifton was working as a manager at the Jack in the Box in Kyle.
Officials said Clifton "hired teen girls, gained their trust, and even the trust of some of their families, and provided the girls with alcohol on and off the job."
The charges were related to three different teens who were 17 and 18 years old at the time of the assaults.
Evidence at the trial showed Clifton began a relationship with a 16-year-old employee and, when the relationship ended, he then preyed on other teen employees.
Evidence showed that Clifton also committed domestic violence against two other women during the same timeframe as the sexual assaults.
The district attorney's office said the judge heard all the evidence of Clifton's violent past, including convictions for assault, assault on a peace officer, retaliation, robbery and aggravated robbery.
During the aggravated robbery, Clifton shot a man and was later sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2009.
What they're saying:
Assistant Criminal District Attorney Ashley Indelicato released the following statement:
"The jury’s guilty verdicts told the defendant they saw him for who he is, a predator and a rapist. More importantly, the verdicts told the survivors of these offenses they were not only heard but believed. The Judge’s sentence gave these young women the peace of mind they deserve by knowing this predator will never harm them or any other young woman again."
Assistant Criminal District Attorney Shelby Griffin released the following statement:
"These young women showed courage by coming forward to law enforcement and throughout this case. We appreciate their strength and the bravery it took to tell the truth about what this defendant did to them. Judge Key’s sentence definitely delivered the message that Hays County will not tolerate sexual predators, especially those with a violent criminal history who prey on vulnerable teens."
The Source: Information from the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office