4 sentenced in Cleveland rape case

Authorities: 11-year-old sexually assaulted by a group of 20

LIBERTY, Texas – Four men convicted of participating in the gang rape of an 11-year-old girl were sentenced on Friday.

Authorities believe the girl was violated on at least five occasions over a three-month period in 2010. Twenty people were charged.

Jared McPherson, 18, Timothy Ellis, 19, and Rayford Ellis, 19, and Kelvin Rashad King, 21, were sentenced to 15 years in prison and will be required to register as sex offenders.

All four men pleaded guilty as part of plea bargains.

King and Timothy Ellis said they aren't guilty, even though they pleaded that they are. They said they didn't want to go to trial after another man Eric McGowen, did and received a 99-year sentence.

"I just want to say they're wrong," Timothy Elllis said. "I didn't even do anything to go away for 15 years."

Seven men are awaiting trial. The rest of the defendants have accepted plea bargains.