A Fulton County judge sentenced a Marietta man to life in prison Thursday after he was convicted of molesting a 4-year-old girl in his care.

Superior Court Judge Alford Dempsey sentenced John Dries, 62, to seven consecutive life terms plus 80 years on the child molestation charges which included attempted rape.

Dries began babysitting for the Sandy Springs girl in 2007 when she was age 4, said Yvette Jones, spokeswoman for the Fulton County District Attorney.

Dries “initially began lavishing the child with gifts and then over the course of the next four years progressed to kissing, fondling and forcing the victim to engage in various sex acts, Jones said in an email.

Her parents and authorities learned of the abuse when the child disclosed it to her therapist in 2011, Jones said. Dries was arrested in November 2011 at his Marietta home.

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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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