Mario Flores Sentenced For Sex Crime

A Midwest man will be spending time behind bars after admitting that a jury could have convicted him of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Mario Flores was sentenced to 28-to-40 years in prison, after he entered an Alford Plea to one count of first degree sexual assault.

Investigators with the Natrona County Sheriff's Office say in late August 2014, the then 12 year old victim claimed she was at Flores' place, when he started to touch her.

When she tried to leave, Flores locked the front door and then continued with what he was doing to her and more.

When interviewed, Flores first said on the day in question that the victim was never at his place, then changed his story, but denied ever doing anything to her.

Prosecutors said they had testimony from the victim, semen evidence that's linked to Flores, and a law enforcement interview with Flores of him saying that he was the only other person in the house at the time.

An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt, but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence and/or testimony, that it would get a guilty conviction from a jury, if the case went to trial.

Flores is also facing deportation.