KELLAT AND WHITE SENTENCING

 

 

Two men entered guilty pleas and were sentenced this week in separate child molestation cases in Douglas Superior Court. On Thursday, May 29, 2008 Judge David T. Emerson sentenced John Joseph Kellat, 41, to a 15 year sentence for child molestation. Kellat will be required to serve 7 years in prison and complete special sex offender conditions when released on probation. Assistant District Attorney Eddie Barker presented evidence at Kellat’s guilty plea that in the summer of 2007, Kellat began talking to a 15 year old female on a “Quest” on-line site. In August, Kellat found where the 15 year old was staying and confronted her as she was walking in her neighborhood. He engaged in sexual intercourse with the 15 year old. She then reported the encounter, and the case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.

On Friday, May 30, 2008 Christopher Lynn White, 23, of Powder Springs, pled guilty to Statutory Rape and Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes before Judge David T. Emerson. White received a 20 year sentence which requires him to serve 10 years in prison. White’s victim was 14 years of age. The victim was staying at a friend’s house in Lithia Springs in June 2007. White was also at the house visiting friends who resided at the house. White convinced the victim to go to a tent in the backyard where the sex acts occurred. The victim reported the incident later that morning. The case was also investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department. The defendant ultimately admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse with the victim.

In addition to the sentences they received, both defendants will be required to register as sex offenders for life once they are released from prison.

“It’s a shame that we continue to see these kinds of cases in our office, but we will continue to prosecute them and do what we can to help victims and their families get through what is usually a very traumatic experience,” said Barker.