A tiny Texas community is bracing itself for more revelations in a child abuse case, in which children as young as five were allegedly given powerful painkillers and prompted to perform sex shows for adults.

Two people have already been convicted in the case and a third is set to stand trial on Monday, near the town of Mineola.

Jamie Pittman and Shauntel Mayo were sentenced to life in prison.

Patrick Kelly, 41, is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, tampering with physical evidence and engaging in organised criminal activity.

Kelly also faces a life sentence if convicted,

In all, six adults have been charged in connection with the case, including a parent of three of the children.

Mineola, about 80 miles east of Dallas, was the location for the sex shows, which were performed in a building where prosecutors say four children were trained to perform in front of an audience of 50 to 100 once a week.

The Mineola police department first investigated a complaint in June 2005, when a foster mother said one of the girls described dancing provocatively toward men.

Permanent custody of three of the children was eventually given to foster parents, Margie Cantrell and her husband, John.

This week, prosecutors in California charged John Cantrell with sexually assaulting a child in the state 18 years ago.

John Cantrell had been called to be a state witness against Patrick Kelly in his upcoming trial.

The building in which the abuse allegedly occurred is being turned into a church.