Jose Luis Cortina, 42, of Las Cruces was sentenced Thursday to 252 years in prison, the maximum possible sentence, for the repeated sexual abuse of a 9-year-old girl from August 2004 to May 2005, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported.

Cortina was found guilty in February of 12 counts of criminal sexual penetration and six counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor, after his  victim told a jury that she was repeatedly abused beginning about six months after Cortina married into her family, the Sun-News said.

"He would do this every day," the girl, now 13, testified in February. "The only time he didn't do it is when my mom was there."

A prior trial ended in a hung jury, but the jury in February deliberated for just two hours before finding Cortina guilty, District Attorney Susana Martinez told the Sun-News.

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