An 18-year-old Washington Parish man faces life in prison for aggravated rape and up to 50 more years for attempted aggravated rape in incidents involving three girls, who were ages 10, 7 and 5 when the abuse was discovered. The defendant, Bradley Jenkins, who lived just outside Bogalusa, is set for sentencing June 24.

A Washington Parish jury deliberated about 1 1/2 hours on Thursday, June 11, before finding Jenkins guilty of the aggravated rape of the two older girls and attempted aggravated rape of the youngest one. The aggravated rape convictions carry a mandatory life sentence.

Assistant District Attorneys Jay Adair and Becky Jo Hollen prosecuted the case before Judge Martin Coady. All three victims testified — two of them via closed circuit television from another room — that they had sexual contact with Jenkins on multiple occasions between July 17, 2011, and Aug. 31, 2013.

The abuse came to light in 2013 during an investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services. The case was also investigated by Washington Parish Deputy Sheriff Demmie Rice.