Jury quickly convicts man of violent rape in Catoosa County

Trial lasted 3 days this week

RINGGOLD, Georgia (WDEF) – A jury convicted a Catoosa County man of rape this week.

It took them less than an hour to find 28 year old Lon Taylor Willbanks guilty of raping his former girlfriend.

It happened on the night of November 6, 2016.

Prosecutors say he verbally, psychologically and physically abused her for several hours at her home.

It ended with the rape.

And it all happened while her two children were in the home.

In fact, one of them used her tablet from inside her bedroom to make an audio recording of the abuse.

The victim made two 911 calls before that day, but Willbanks fled before police got there.

The victim took the stand to recount the hours of abuse.

And a former wife of Willbanks also testified that he had raped her several times, just as his current victim had described.

After the verdict, the victim said “After 6 long years, the nightmare is finally over.”

“Justice has has been served and I could not be more grateful. I would like to thank Assistant District Attorney Clay Fuller, Detective Daniel Thacker, Victim Advocate Ashley Nicholson and all the employees at the Sexual Assault Center for their support through this nightmare. I am a survivor.”