Cobb Man Started Raping Girl At 8 Years Old

MARIETTA, GA — A Cobb County man is facing four life sentences, plus another 195 years in prison, after a jury convicted him of raping a young relative for years, starting when she was just 8 years old.

Gabriel Alvarez, 34, of Acworth, was convicted by a jury on multiple counts of rape, incest and child molestation, as well as charges of child cruelty, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, interference with government property and other charges.

After a week-long trial, the jury took just two hours to convict Alvarez late Friday night.

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According to Cobb County prosecutors, one of the most extreme attacks happened when the girl was 11. She testified that she came home from school on the school bus and, after going inside, found Alvarez hiding behind a door, wearing only his boxer shorts.

He dragged her into a bedroom, where he suffocated her with his hands and a rag as he sexually assaulted her. The girl testified that she thought she was going to die that day because she couldn't breathe.

At age 12, the girl told her mother and sisters about the attacks, but no one did anything, prosecutors said. The mother denied the girl ever telling her about the attacks. It was not until spring 2016 ― after a night on which Alvarez snuck into the girl's bedroom through a window and assaulted her — that she told her boyfriend and the boyfriend took her to the Acworth Police Department.

"From the time this child was eight years old, she was forced to endure years of the most egregious sexual abuse imaginable ... all at the hands of someone who should’ve cared for and protected her," said assistant District Attorney Courtney Veal, who prosecuted the case. "This child’s strength and resilience in light of what she has lived through with no support whatsoever is truly amazing, and I’m glad the jury returned a verdict that reflects the truth."

In addition to the sexual assaults, prosecutors said Alvarez made the girl watch pornography through the years.

Cobb County Superior Court Judge A. Gregory Poole has scheduled sentencing in the case for 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2.

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