Lubbock man sentenced to 50 years in prison without parole for sexually abusing girl

A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to 50-years in prison without the possibility of parole after admitting to repeatedly sexually abusing a 17 year-old girl and fathering her child about three years ago.

James Lee Bates, who has been held at the Lubbock County Detention Center since his April 30, 2019 arrest, was supposed to stand trial starting Monday in the 137 District Court. However, on Friday, two days before jurors were to be selected, he accepted a deal with the Lubbock County District Attorney's Office, to plead guilty to a count of continuous sexual abuse of a child in exchange for a 50-year prison sentence without parole.

More: Lubbock drive-by-shooting suspect surrenders at Texas-Mexico border

He faced between 25 years to life in prison without parole.

Bates' charge stems from a Nov. 20, 2018, Lubbock police investigation at Covenant Children's where the girl, who was 14 at the time, gave birth. Earlier that day, the girl was at school and felt pain and began to bleed. Her mother took her to the hospital where doctors told her she was about seven months pregnant, according to an arrest warrant.

The girl initially told police and her parents that another man, who was a family friend, raped her. However, the warrant states the girl changed her story and identified Bates as her rapist when Child Protective Services workers began investigating.

More: Bart Reagor found guilty on 1 of 3 federal charges

In January 2019, the girl told police investigators she didn't want to pursue the case further, saying she wanted to have sex with Bates, the warrant states.

Meanwhile, Bates initially denied to police he sexually assaulted the girl and volunteered his DNA for analysis.

The warrant states Bates appeared shocked in April 2019 when the report from a DNA analysis indicated he was the father of the girl's child. However, he later admitted to having sex with the girl but said she initiated the sexual relationship.

Court records show Bates left threatening messages on the girl's voicemail to stop her from telling anyone what he'd done or who the father of her child was.

Bates will have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from prison.

©2021 www.lubbockonline.com. Visit lubbockonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.