Waco man on trial accused of sexually assaulting girl and forcing her to view pornographic images on her phone

WACO, TX (KWTX) – A Waco man accused of sexually abusing a young family member and forcing her to view pornographic images on her phone for five years is on trial in McLennan County’s 54th District Court.

Walter Manuel Cardon, 31, is accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a minor child and faces a minimum of 25 years without parole and up to life in prison without parole if convicted.

Testimony is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning. Prosecutors Tara Avants and Luke McCowan and defense attorney Jonathan Sibley selected the jury Monday.

The alleged victim reported Cardona sexually assaulting the 7-year-old in January 2016 in March 2021, according to an arrest affidavit.

According to court records, the alleged victim reported the abuse to a Department of Family and Protective Services investigator and was later interviewed at the Child and Crime Victim Advocacy Center. She also told those agencies that Cardona had sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, court records show.

According to court records, Cardona has convictions for burglary, giving false information to police, car theft and criminal mischief.

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