A man who was a fugitive for nearly two weeks after fleeing his trial a day before being convicted in the repeated group sexual assault of an 11-year-old Southeast Texas girl has been formally sentenced.

Eric McGowen returned to a Liberty courtroom Thursday and was told by a judge that a jury sentenced him to 99 years in prison.

McGowen was silent during the brief court hearing.

The 20-year-old was not in court on Aug. 30 when a jury announced the sentence. McGowen had been free on bail and never came back to court after a break in testimony on Aug. 29.

He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced in absentia.

McGowen was arrested Tuesday in a Houston apartment.