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10th May 2022
01:40pm BST
The police were alerted when the young girl told her doctor that she was sexually active with her 'husband'.
The girl's mother, Cherry Payton, allegedly told the doctor that it was fine and that her daughter had consented to the marriage.
The child's husband, Steven Carty, 47, has also been charged with the aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Police investigating the case also found that there was no recorded marriage license and that the so-called marriage was not in any way legal.
In Texas, the age to get married is 18 but there are some exceptions that could allow a minor to marry at the age of 16.
Payton now faces up to 30 years in prison for the continuous sexual abuse of a young child, while Carty, has received two sentences, 22 years and 20 years for aggravated sexual assault of a child and sexual assault of a child.
Both Payton and Carty will have to register as sex offenders for the rest of their lives.
Police have not mentioned who now has custody of the young teenager, but she is now safely away from both her mother and her 'husband'.Explore more on these topics:
