A 21-year-old man has been convicted of molesting a 7-year-old child that his mother was babysitting, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office said.

Marco Antonio Esparza-Castaneda has been convicted of aggravated child molestation. The jury deliberated for only 30 minutes before returning a guilty verdict, the district attorney’s office said.

In January 2015, the then 7-year-old victim told her mother that Esparza-Castaneda forced her to perform oral sex on him. The child was being babysat by Esparza-Castaneda’s mother at the time. Esparza-Castaneda lived with his mother and other family members across the street from the victim and her family. Esparza-Castaneda was 18 at the time of the incident.

Gwinnett County Special Victims Unit Det. Brian Dorminy told the jury that the child’s behavior and interview were consistent with being a victim of child sexual assault.

Esparza-Castaneda was sentenced to 25 years in prison and life on probation. He must also register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

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It happened along Hwy 78 in Gwinnett County.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com