Peach County jury convicts man of child molestation after years-long case
Georgia’s Fort Valley (41NBC/WMGT) Following years of investigation into the sexual assault of young family members, a Peach County jury on Friday found a 57-year-old man guilty of child molestation.
A news statement from the office of Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard states that Michael Todd Durham was found guilty in 2017 of abusing a 13-year-old relative. Two additional family members testified throughout the trial that Durham also engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with them when they were 13 and 7 years old.
According to the district attorney’s office, prosecutors overcame a number of obstacles in the case, including as the amount of time since the assault occurred and witness intimidation by a defense investigator. According to the announcement, the victim traveled from out of state to Peach County to testify before the jury in spite of these challenges.
According to District Attorney Howard, this conviction demonstrates our steadfast dedication to safeguarding our community’s most vulnerable citizens. Despite the many obstacles in this case, our committed team never stopped working to make sure this courageous victim got the justice she was due. She and the other two witnesses showed amazing bravery by coming to this trial, and for that I am incredibly proud. We will keep using every tool at our disposal to hold people responsible for the harm they cause to children.
Following the verdict, Durham was placed under arrest. A later date will be set for sentencing. Child molestation has a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.
