A Palmdale man was sentenced today to 270 years to life in state prison for sexually abusing two girls related to his girlfriend, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Scott Yang said Jeffery Lee Thomas (dob 10/22/63) was convicted by a jury on Aug. 13, 2015, for two counts of lewd act upon a child and one count of continuous sexual abuse in case MA063283.

Thomas was a lifetime registered sex offender. In 2002, he was convicted of two counts of lewd act upon a child and one count of forcible lewd act upon a child in case MA022353.

The two victims, ages 8 and 13, were abused for as long as a two-year period beginning in May 2010, the prosecutor said. According to witness testimony, Thomas began a relationship with a Palmdale woman and soon after began abusing her daughters.

The abuse was uncovered after the youngest victim told what happened to a medical professional, the prosecutor added.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / case MA063283 / January 8, 2016