Hiram man faces life sentence after jury finds him guilty of sexually assaulting 6-year-old child

Written by: A. Smith

Published January 15, 2026 @ 9:45 AM ET

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. – A Paulding County jury has convicted a Hiram man of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old child, a verdict that could send him to prison for life.

Jurors on Thursday found Javier Emmanuel Sable, 42, guilty of aggravated child molestation and child molestation following a four-day trial in Paulding County Superior Court. The jury deliberated for about a day before returning guilty verdicts on both counts.

The case began in August 2024, when the child disclosed the abuse to a guardian, prompting a criminal investigation by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Unit. Prosecutors said the abuse involved sexual acts committed against the child, who was 6 years old at the time.

During the trial, the child testified in court, a moment prosecutors described as pivotal to the case. The jury also heard testimony from Detective Suzi Massey, who investigated the allegations and detailed how the case was built after the initial disclosure.

District Attorney Robert S. Lane praised the child’s bravery and the work of prosecutors who handled the case.

“Crimes against children strike at the very heart of our community,” Lane said in a statement following the verdict. “Children should be able to grow up in love and innocence, and no child should ever have to endure the kind of abuse this victim suffered.”

Lane credited Senior Assistant District Attorney Jason Treadaway and Assistant District Attorney Christina Morgan Young with presenting the case to the jury and securing the convictions. He said the verdict sends a clear message that those who sexually abuse children will be held accountable.

Under Georgia law, aggravated child molestation carries a possible sentence of life in prison. A first conviction for child molestation carries a potential sentence of five to 20 years.

Sable remains in custody. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 3, when a judge will determine how much time he will serve.