A Porterville man was sentenced Thursday to 450 years to life in prison for sexually abusing two young girls over several years, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office announced on Tuesday.

Steven Avila, 33, was convicted by a Tulare County jury of 18 counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, one count of contacting a minor for a sexual offense, and one count of sending harmful material to a minor.

The jury also found true allegations that the crimes involved substantial sexual conduct and multiple victims.

Prosecutors said 16 of the offenses occurred between July 2018 and July 2021 against a girl who was 11 to 13 years old, while four offenses took place between January 2020 and July 2021 against a girl who was 4 to 5. All crimes occurred in Porterville.

Avila will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

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