Former Atlanta cop sentenced to 20 years for molesting 12-year-old girl

By Christian Boone

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A veteran Atlanta police investigator was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday after a jury convicted him on two counts each of child molestation and sexual battery.

Wilson Carstaffin, 46, met his 12-year-old victim in November 2007 while working a side job as a resource officer at a middle school. According to prosecutors, Carstaffin summoned the girl, who has a slight developmental disability, from class and instructed her to meet him after school at a nearby church.

The Fulton County District Attorney's office said Carstaffin picked the girl up in his car and began fondling her, at one point asking his victim if he could be her boyfriend.

Carstaffin kept the girl for hours save for one 15-minute stretch when he went to meet his wife. Prosecutors say he dropped the girl off, unattended, at a nearby gas station and returned to pick her up. He resumed fondling the 12-year-old before finally taking her home.

The girl's father tried to contact the officer for an explanation, but Carstaffin never responded. Eventually the girl told one of her teachers what had happened inside the officer's car.

An APD investigation followed, resulting in Carstaffin's arrest, indictment and dismissal from the force.

Carstaffin was also sentenced to 20 years probation, which he'll serve following his prison sentence.