Tyler man convicted on child sex charges

TYLER (AP) - A jury deliberated four minutes Thursday before convicting a Tyler man of aggravated sexual assault of a child in connection with his role in running a Mineola swingers club where several young children were forced to dance and perform sexual acts for an audience.

The jury then deliberated two minutes before sentencing Jamie Pittman, 36, to life in prison and fining him $10,000, the Tyler Morning Telegraph reported in its online edition Thursday afternoon.

The jury found Pittman guilty for causing two young siblings to have sex with each other in 2004.

The charges against Pittman and six others came after a twoyear investigation that began in March 2005 with Child Protective Services investigating allegations of neglect and child abuse. CPS found children suffering ongoing sexual abuse and exploitation. At the time, the siblings were a girl aged 7, her 6-year-old brother and 5-yearold sister. The newspaper said the children's 6-year-old aunt also was forced to dance and have sex with the other children.

The children testified Thursday about what they were forced to do and that they were fed drugs to help them perform.

During victim impact statements, the aunt, now 9, said she forgave Pittman.

"I used to be afraid of you. ... But now you're going to pay," she said.

The siblings' foster parents said they hoped Pittman would go back to his jail cell and pray for God's forgiveness.