Canton Man Sentenced In Child Molestation Case

CANTON, GA — A Canton man is sentenced to prison after being accused of sexually abusing a child a little more than three years ago, District Attorney Shannon Wallace said Thursday in a news release.

David M. Blackburn, 63, is found guilty of three counts of child molestation and one count of first-degree cruelty to children after a four-day trial, Wallace said. Blackburn was sentenced Oct. 6, 2022, to 20 years, with the first 10 years to be served in prison and the remainder to be served on probation, she said.

Canton Police began investigating Blackburn in December 2019, when a child told forensic interviewers at a children's center in detail that she was sexually abused by someone from 2014 through 2019, Wallace said.

" ... The victim in this case showed amazing strength throughout the investigation and prosecution of this crime," said Assistant District Attorney Rachel Hines, of the Special Victims Unit, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the state.