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SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) -- A psychologist testified about conditioning females as the penalty phase continues for a polygamist group member convicted of sexual assault of a child.
Testimony was to resume Thursday in San Angelo in the punishment phase for Keith William Dutson Jr., who faces up to 20 years in prison.
Jurors on Tuesday convicted the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints member over allegations from 2006.
The San Angelo Standard-Times reports Dutson was 20 and the girl was 15 at the time of their alleged polygamous union a year earlier.
Clinical psychologist Larry Beall testified Wednesday that the group's practices amounted to "sexual grooming," with females conditioned through intimacy, religious authority and secrecy.
The defense could cross-examine Beall on Thursday.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
