LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- A man convicted of raping a 9-year-old child for months is sentenced to 252 years.

A Las Cruces judge sentenced Jose Luis Cortina, 42, Thursday morning.

Cortina was found guilty on 18 different charges: 12 counts of criminal sexual penetration and six counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor.

Cortina was tried and convicted in February for a second time. The previous trial resulted in a hung jury.

Within two hours, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all 12 charges.

State Prosecutor Amy Orlando said the girl's testimony in court Thursday may have convinced the judge to deliver the maximum sentence. "We don't always have our victims come forward and speak at sentencing, especially younger victims. She's 13 now, but she really wanted to address the court and she did. She broke down, but she addressed the court and I think that made a big difference to the judge to see that she was going to follow this through to the end," said Orlando.

Prosecutors said Cortina continued to claim the girl lied.