Tampa, Florida man sentenced Monday to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting and molestation of his girlfriend's 10-year old daughter. He also diduse her with bleach in an attempt to hide evidence.After a three-day trial in June, the jury found Lewis Matthews (43), guilty of four felonies.Andrew Warren, Hillsborough County attorney, described it as "a despicable crime." It is heartbreaking to watch a victim be abused by someone she was supposed to care for. We are against child predators. These cases are aggressively pursued. He will spend the rest his life in prison.Matthews is black and faces a life sentence. He will also be serving a five-year term for sexual battery of victims under 12.TWENTY-FOUR MIAMI PARTMENT BUILDINGS, INCLUSING TWO COUNTY OWNED STRUCTURES. LISTED UNSAFE AFTER THE AUDITThis is a horrible crime. It is heartbreaking to witness a victim being abused by someone she was supposed to care for. We are against child predators. These cases are aggressively pursued. He will spend the rest his life in prison.https://t.co/fhykDfAXPl Andrew Warren, @AndrewWarrenFL June 28, 2021According to prosecutors, the girl claimed she fell asleep on the floor of her living room on April 13, 2019. Matthews, she claimed, woke her at 3:30 AM and sexually abused her.When the mother of the girl heard a noise, the man stopped and went downstairs. Prosecutors said that her mother was shocked by the discovery and called 911.Matthews took the two children and the girl from the home, and drove them to the nearest gas station. Matthews made the girl wash her clothes in the convenience store and then bleached them to erase any evidence. The DNA samples and clothing that Matthews tried to hide in the trash were recovered by investigators.Continue the storyMatthews was captured on camera shaking the hand of his attorney as he left the courtroom Monday. He was laughing after being sentenced to life in prison. According to reports, the victim's mother wasn't there.CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE WASHINGTON XAMINERThe Washington Examiner reached out to the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office, but didn't receive an immediate response.Washington Examiner VideosTags: News, Florida Man, Sexual Assault Prison, CrimeOriginal Author: Kaelan deeseOriginal Location: Florida man sentenced to life for molestation of 10-year-old girl by his girlfriend
