KAUFMAN, Texas — UPDATE [Feb. 13] — A Kaufman County jury has sentenced a former fire chief and youth coach to life in prison after a two-day trial on child sex abuse allegations.
KAUFMAN, Texas — UPDATE [Feb. 13] — A Kaufman County jury has sentenced a former fire chief and youth coach to life in prison after a two-day trial on child sex abuse allegations.
Yesterday, the jury found 48-year-old Edward "Buddy" Mann guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14.
After hearing testimony this morning during the sentencing phase of the trial, the jury, which included nine women and three men, deliberated for approximately an hour before sentencing Mann to the maximum punishment of life in prison.
Mann did not testify during the trial or punishment phase and did not respond to victim impact statements on Wednesday afternoon.
Prosecutors, speaking to jurors, called Mann the "worst of the worst" of child predators.
ORIGINAL [Feb. 12] — A Kaufman County jury, earlier today, found 48-year-old Edward "Buddy" Mann guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14.
Mann was the former chief of the Ables Springs Volunteer Fire Department, a youth baseball coach and volunteer.
The trial against Mann began Monday on an underlying offense for indecency with a child by sexual contact. The jury later found the abuse had extended over a term of 30 days and convicted Mann on one count of continuous sex abuse of a child under the age of 14, which carries a punishment range of 25 years to life.
Sentencing is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. where prosecutors may introduce evidence of additional victims in the case, which Mann stood indicted on prior to the beginning of trial.
Mann was originally arrested in October 2017 after a man reported the sexual abuse to police. The man was 12 years old when the offense occurred while Mann was his youth baseball coach. The abuse reportedly occurred over the span of a couple of years, the victim told police. Just days later a second victim came forward and Mann was charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact. In February 2018, Mann was charged on an additional count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 when another former baseball player reported the abuse while he was between the ages of 12 and 14 or 15 years of age.
This is a developing story. Additional details are expected tomorrow as a result of the sentencing.