A Gwinnett County man was convicted of five felonies, including rape and aggravated child molestation, authorities said.
Derlin Antonio Guevara, 25, of Lawrenceville, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing the child between 2012 and 2014, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office said in a Thursday news release.
During that time period, he abused the child, whose age wasn’t provided, on numerous occasions, the release said. In 2018, the victim attended a child sexual abuse prevention class at school, which led her to tell her father what happened years earlier.
However, her parents didn’t contact law enforcement, the release said.
Months later, the victim told her school counselor, who taught the abuse prevention class, and Gwinnett police were notified, the release said. The ensuing investigation led to Guevara’s arrest.
He was charged with rape, aggravated sexual battery, aggravated child molestation and two counts of child molestation, Gwinnett jail records show.
Guevara opted for a bench trial instead of a jury trial, meaning Judge Ronnie Batchelor determined whether he was guilty or innocent instead of a jury, the release said. He also waived his right to confront the victim during the trial in exchange for prosecutor Assistant District Attorney Matt Acuff allowing him to be sentenced below the mandatory minimum for those charges.
He was found guilty on all counts, the release said.
After his prison time, Guevara will spend an additional 15 years on probation and will have to register as a sex offender.
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