Marietta Man Convicted of Child Molestation Receives Three Life Sentences

MARIETTA, GA -- Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds announced on Tuesday that a man convicted of aggravated child molestation and other charges involving three young girls will die in prison.

On Monday, a Cobb jury convicted Manuel Ponce Dominguez, 42, of 19 counts, including aggravated child molestation, child molestation, cruelty to children, and invasion of privacy.

The investigation, led by the Marietta Police Department, found Dominguez had repeatedly sodomized and molested one girl for 12 years, beginning when she was just five years old. He later continued to sexually abuse at least two other girls. The attacks occurred in his residences, including a home on Park Street in the city of Marietta.

“All their lives, these girls have been used and taken advantage of. They have had their innocence, their childhoods and their dignity stolen,” ADA Hannah Palmquist told the court during the sentencing hearing this morning. “For once in their lives, these girls need to be told that they matter. We are asking this court to tell them with this sentence how much they matter.”

The case came to light when one of the victims told a family friend, who reported it to police. The youngest victim never disclosed the abuse, but the State proved those counts based on admissions the Defendant made to police.

On Tuesday, Cobb Superior Court Judge Stephen Schuster admonished Dominguez for his actions.

“You put them in a state of constant fear,” Schuster said. “You forced their silence for over a decade.”

Schuster then sentenced Dominguez to three consecutive life sentences plus 45 years. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a hold on Dominguez, a native of Mexico, and he will likely be deported to his native Mexico if he is ever released from prison.

Marietta attorney Kevin Rodgers represented Dominguez, who has been held without bond since his arrest in July 2014.

The trial began on Tuesday, Jan. 26.