Jury convicts man of rape, abuse of disabled wife, judge orders 30 years in prison

Written by: A. Smith

Published December 9, 2025 @ 1:16 PM ET

GORDON COUNTY, Ga. – A Gordon County man has been sentenced to life in prison, with the first 30 years to be served behind bars, after a jury convicted him of raping and abusing his disabled wife, prosecutors announced.

Alvaro Perez-y-Perez, 38, was found guilty of rape, sexual abuse of a disabled adult and three misdemeanor offenses following a week-long trial that began Oct. 20. Jurors heard testimony from several witnesses, including family members who were closely involved in the victim’s care.

Prosecutors said the victim suffers from a degenerative muscular disease that has left her with little use of her arms and legs. Perez-y-Perez had served as her primary caregiver, responsible for daily needs such as bathing and feeding. Evidence presented at trial showed he kicked her legs hard enough to leave visible marks and threatened to tape her mouth shut when she asked for food.

“What made this case particularly heinous was the fact that the victim was incapable of defending herself from her abuser,” Assistant District Attorney Colleen Hampton, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement. “Her abuser was the person she relied on for her daily care.”

The abuse came to light after the victim contacted the Gordon County Domestic Violence Outreach Office seeking help. The Calhoun Police Department conducted the investigation that led to Perez-y-Perez’s arrest.

Superior Court Judge Samir J. Patel, who presided over the trial, handed down the sentence on Dec. 4. Patel said the crime of rape is among the most serious under Georgia law and that the legislature has established strict sentencing guidelines to reflect its severity.