A 65-year-old Marietta man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of nine counts of child molestation involving four young girls, according to the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office.
In court Thursday morning, Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann Harris called Gustodio Arellano “an opportunistic predator with a dark soul” and handed down a sentence of 60 years, DA’s office spokeswoman Kim Isaza said. He must spend 40 years in prison and the remaining 20 years on probation.
Between 2004 and 2012, prosecutors said Arellano repeatedly molested the girls at various homes and Proctor Landing Park on Lake Allatoona. The victims were 4 or 5 years old when the abuse started and 10 or 11 years old when it ended, according to officials.
“We’re glad that the jury returned a verdict that reflected the truth regarding the years of sexual abuse the victims suffered at the hands of the defendant,” Cobb assistant district attorney Courtney Veal said. “This sentence ensures that he will never have another opportunity to prey on an innocent child.”
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