Man Gets Life in Prison for Child Sex Assault

GILMER � A sex offender was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday after a jury of 12 convicted him of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old child. KETK reports Jason Wayne Belcher, 35, was found guilty of sexually abusing the child in an Upshur County home when the mother was away at work. The crime took place in January 2012, said Criminal District Attorney Billy W. Byrd. The jury also heard additional evidence in which the suspect was accused of raping another child in Wood County. The victim made a teacher aware of the incidents, which had allegedly been ongoing for years, in February 2014. That investigation is ongoing.

Belcher was previously convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child in Dallas County in 1999 and burglary of habitation in Wood County in 2000. After being found guilty, Belcher waived a jury sentencing and was ordered to serve life in prison by Judge Lauren Parish of the 115th District Court. He will be eligible for parole in 30 years.