Marietta man gets 25 years for molesting three girls

A Cobb County man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for child molestation Tuesday after pleading guilty as his trial was to about to begin.

Johannes Petrus VanStaden, 46, of Marietta, pleaded guilty to aggravated child molestation, child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes and simple battery on Monday for acts involving three young girls, District Attorney Vic Reynolds said.

“The defendant actually commented to his attorney during his plea concern that this is in effect a life sentence,” said Chuck Boring, the assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case. “Given the effect his crimes had on those children, I sincerely hope it is.”