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Written by: A. Smith
Published April 23, 2025 @ 9:03 AM ET
CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. – A northwest Georgia couple has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of abusing and neglecting their teenage children, including allowing the sexual abuse of their daughter by her older half-brother, according to prosecutors.
The couple, whose names have not been released to protect the identities of the victims, were convicted on March 27 of two counts each of first-degree and second-degree cruelty to children, the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office said.
The charges stemmed from a December 2023 investigation that revealed disturbing conditions inside the family’s Catoosa County mobile home. According to officials, the home had no heat or hot water, and the only running water was in the bathtub. The residence was described as filthy and in disrepair, and later deemed uninhabitable by Catoosa County Code Enforcement.
Despite the unlivable conditions, prosecutors said the father worked as an electrician and testified to earning between $1,100 and $1,800 per week after taxes.
Authorities said the parents repeatedly used Airsoft guns to discipline their children. They restricted what their daughter could eat and padlocked the refrigerator to stop her from obtaining food.
According to the DA, the couple’s daughter was sexually abused by her older half-brother, who bribed her into performing sexual acts in exchange for food. Prosecutors said the parents were aware of the abuse but continued to leave her alone with the half-brother on a weekly basis while staying at another property they owned.
“Parents should be the first in line to protect children, but if they fail, we will step into that breach of our most basic foundations of our community,” said District Attorney Clayton Fuller. “The wickedness of a parent who treats their own flesh and blood with such cruelty and neglect will be met here in northwest Georgia with the full force of justice.”
The half-brother was sentenced to life and must serve 25 years without the chance of parole.