A Warren County man faces life in prison after he was convicted during a two-day trial of sexually assaulting a third-grader in 2011.

Jurors took about two hours to convict Kenny Cordell Stewart, 30, whose last known address was 7140 Warriors Trail, of sexual battery of a child younger than 14 and molestation, Assistant District Attorney Angela Carpenter said.

“All of our crimes are serious, but when you’re dealing with a child, you can’t get more serious than that,” Carpenter said.

Sexually battery of a child younger than 14 carries a sentence of up to life in prison, and molestation carries a sentence of 15 years.

Circuit Judge M. James Chaney set sentencing for Oct. 9.

The victim, who was 9 at the time of the abuse and is now 11, provided crucial testimony during the trial, Carpenter said.

“We can’t tell her story and share how she feels, but she can,” Carpenter said.

The girl’s mother caught Stewart molesting her on Aug. 2, 2013, and immediately called police, Assistant District Attorney Bert Carraway said.

Stewart, who is represented by Aafram Sellers of Jackson, had been baby-sitting the girl while the mother was at work, Carraway said.

After being interrupted by the mother, Stewart fled from the home in the 100 block of Elizabeth Circle. He was arrested three days later hiding in a closet at 420 Countryside Drive, off Mississippi 27 after police received an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers.

Jamie Williams has been convicted of obstruction of justice for aiding Stewart, Carraway said.

Williams did not know the crime Stewart had committed at the time he agreed to give him aid, Carraway said.

“He concealed his whereabouts from police for two days,” Carraway said.

Williams was sentenced to three years’ probation.