Crime & Safety

Gwinnett Man Gets Life For Sexually Abusing Girlfriend's Daughter

"I can erase you from society," the judge said before handing down the sentence.

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A Gwinnett County man was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison Wednesday for years of sexual abuse of his girlfriend's daughter.

Tanyon Emil Baker, 41, of Auburn, was convicted by a jury of rape, three counts of aggravated child molestation, aggravated sexual battery and child molestation

His victim is now 18 years old.

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"I can’t erase what you did from the victim’s memory," said Superior Court Judge George F. Hutchinson III, in handing down a sentence of life plus 10 years in prison. "But I can erase you from society."

On June 25, 2013, the victim told a friend that her mother's boyfriend forced her to have sexual intercourse at their home in Auburn.

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She said he had forced her to have sex five or six times since February 2013 and that she was forced to perform other sex acts. She was 14 when the abuse started.

Prosecutors said in a news release that the case was made more difficult because of lack of support from the victim's mother.

"However, due to love and support from other family members, the victim was finally able to tell her story and receive the justice she deserved," read the release from the Gwinnett County District Attorney's office.

After just three hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Baker on all counts.

Image via Shutterstock

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