WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A convicted sex offender who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in 2023 and 2024 and told her he wanted to have children with her was sentenced to 35 years in prison Thursday on eight felony counts.

Ernest Henry Swinner, 50, who was living with the girl’s family in Lacy Lakeview at the time of the assaults, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault of a child, three counts of indecency with a child by contact and one count of online solicitation of a minor.

Swinner will serve the eight terms concurrently as part of his plea agreement with the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office, which was approved by 54th State District Judge Susan Kelly. He must serve at least 17 ½ years in prison before he can seek parole.

The charges against Swinner were enhanc

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