Catoosa County couple sentenced to 20 years following child cruelty conviction
CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — A Catoosa County couple has been sentenced after being found guilty on multiple counts of child abuse.
The couple was charged in December of 2023 following an investigation led by local authorities.
According to the Lookout Mountain District Attorney’s Office, the couple lived with their teenage children in a mobile home that didn’t have proper heat, no hot water, and the only running water was in the bathtub.
Evidence collected revealed the home was in a state of disrepair and filthy.
The Catoosa County Codes Enforcement found the home to be inhabitable.
It was also discovered that the father was an electrician that testified to earn $1,100-$1,800 per week after taxes.
Along with the inhabitable conditions of the home, the couple was repeatedly punishing the children by shooting them with airsoft guns.
They also restricted what their daughter could eat and had a padlock installed on the refrigerator to keep her from accessing food.
The daughter had also been molested by her older half-brother.
The Lookout Mountain District Attorney’s Office said he bribed her to allow sexual acts in exchange for food.
The half-brother was sentenced to life, with 25 years to serve incarcerated.
On March 27, 2025, the couple was found guilty of the following charges:
- Cruelty to Children in the 1st Degree (2 counts)
- Cruelty to Children in the 2nd Degree (2 counts)
Each were given a sentence of 20 years to serve in prison.
