Former Houston County assistant principal sentenced to life for child molestation, incest, DA says

Written by: A. Smith

Published February 24, 2026 @ 1:06 PM ET

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. – A former Houston County educator and assistant principal has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing a child for nearly a decade.

Joshua Lee Mason, 44, was convicted Wednesday of aggravated child molestation and incest by a jury, according to Houston County District Attorney Eric Edwards. He was sentenced by Houston County Superior Court Judge Amy Smith to life in prison, plus 30 years.

Mason was found to have sexually abused a child he was related to, starting when the child was 8 years old. The abuse lasted for nine years, according to the district attorney’s office.

The jury found Mason guilty of three separate criminal sex acts against the child, including oral sodomy and intercourse.

“This case represents one of the most serious breaches of trust our justice system has ever been called upon to confront,” Edwards said in a statement. “For nearly a decade, a child was subjected to repeated sexual abuse by someone who should have been a protector.”

Mason was a former vice principal at Northside High School and teacher at Warner Robins High School. He was arrested in 2021 after he turned himself in on Nov. 5 of that year. He had resigned from his position the day before.

Mason moved to Houston County for the 2020-2021 school year. The next school year, he became the assistant principal of discipline at Northside High School.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth McDaniel praised the jury’s work.

“The jury rendered a verdict that speaks the truth, and the truth is that the children of Houston County must be protected from predators,” McDaniel said. “Today, there is one less predator on the streets of our county.”

If Mason is ever granted parole during his life sentence, he will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

“Protecting children is among the most solemn responsibilities of this office, and today justice was served,” Edwards said.