It only took jurors 80 minutes to find a 39-year-old Lakeland man guilty on Thursday of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

Jose Vargas is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 18. He faces life in prison.

Assistant State Attorney Courtney Durden prosecuted the case. She told jurors that DNA evidence linked Vargas to the assault.

The case broke in September, 2016 when the victim told her teacher about repeated sexual assaults. The teacher then notified the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

During the trial, the victim, who is 15 now, testified to jurors about the assault.

State Attorney Brian Haas thanks Assistant State Attorney Durden and Polk County Sheriff’s detectives.