Roudy Vital claimed that the reason he bathed an 8-year-old girl and touched her inappropriately was because he wanted to make sure she was completely clean.

A jury found Vital guilty of lewd molestation June 27. A mandatory life sentenced will be imposed on Vital at his sentencing hearing Aug. 7.

Assistant State Attorney Lauren Randall told the jury that Vital is a family friend and was asked to babysit the victim and her younger sister while their mother was at work. The girls liked Vital and trusted him, Randall said.

“(Vital) saw vulnerability and seized an opportunity,” Randall told jurors.

Before putting the girls to bed, Vital asked the 8-year-old to take a shower. Instead of leaving her to shower alone, he stayed to watch her, bathe her and touch her.

“Even to an 8-year-old, she knew right away what he was doing was wrong,” Randall said. “She felt uncomfortable and did not know what to do.”

After the shower, Vital took the girl to his bedroom and continued touching her sexually, telling her, “One day you are going to be a woman and have a husband that will do that to you.”

He sent the girl to bed and told her that what happened is their secret and that she should not tell her mother.

The following morning, the girl was woken up by Vital touching her inappropriately again. He then tells her he was only checking on her and that she should get up and get ready for church.

After church, Vital took the girls back to their mother, and the victim immediately told her mother what had been done to her.

Law enforcement interviewed Vital, who admitted he laid the child on his bed and physically examined her, but he denied touching her sexually. His statement was played in court, and Randall pointed out the tone of his voice and how he remained defensive throughout the interview.

“He minimizes what he did,” Randall said. “He tries to veil his motives in how he deflects and shifts the blame.”

Randall reminded the jury that Vital was unsure and inconsistent when he took the stand to testify during trial, making his statement one that should not be trusted. The victim showed genuine signs of distress in her testimony, Randall said, and her statement in court echoed the statement she gave to law enforcement over two years ago, making hers one that should be trusted.

“(Vital’s) reasons for acting the way he did (by claiming he wanted to make sure the victim was clean) are simply unreasonable and perverse,” Randall said.