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Man guilty of sexually assaulting 12-year-old

Surrey's Antonio Daponte broke into Coquitlam girl's bedroom in 2009.
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A Surrey man has been found guilty of breaking into a 12-year-old girl's bedroom and sexually assaulting her two years ago.

Antonio Eduardo Daponte was convicted in New Westminster Supreme Court on Tuesday (Nov. 1).

The 45-year-old was charged with aggravated sexual assault and breaking and entering in connection to the May 2009 attack in Coquitlam.

There is a court imposed publication ban on anything that would identify the victim.

At the time of the incident, police believed Daponte snuck into the girl's room in the early morning hours, assaulted her and fled through a window when she screamed.

The crime put the community on edge as the RCMP initially didn't know whether the attack was random. After his arrest, it was determined the suspect was known to the victim's family.

Daponte is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 12.