An Aurora man faces now faces at least 80 years in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting his daughter.

Jose Mendoza-Sosa, 46, of the 300 block of Spring Street, Aurora, was convicted Friday, Sept. 12, by a Kane County jury of 20 counts of criminal sexual assault, each a Class 1 felony, and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony.

The jury deliberated for less than 50 minutes before it reached its verdict.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that between June and August 2012, Mendoza-Sosa committed multiple acts of sexual penetration with the victim, his 15-year-old daughter, at their Spring Street home in Aurora. The victim later saw Mendoza-Sosa committing the same acts with her younger sister in a DuPage County hotel room and told her brother, who contacted authorities. The older daughter disclosed the abuse in an attempt to protect her younger sister despite being threatened against doing so by Mendoza-Sosa.

In addition, prosecutors presented evidence that Mendoza-Sosa threatened the victim’s mother in an attempt to keep her from testifying in the case.

Associate Judge Clint Hull set Mendoza-Sosa’s next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 16, 2014, for motions and sentencing. Mendoza-Sosa faces a sentence of between 80 and 307 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He also must register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act.

“What this defendant did is the worst thing a father can do to his daughter,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said. “It is unimaginable. I cannot say enough how much courage these children showed by standing up to their abusive father.

“Thanks to our staff at the Child Advocacy Center for their hard work in investigating this case, and thanks to Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Andrew Whitfield and Debra Bree, who prosecuted this case.”

SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office press release