Man Who Raped 4-Year-Old Gets 2 Life Sentences + 120 years

MARIETTA, GA -- A Marietta man who repeatedly raped a little girl will spend the rest of his life in prison. On Friday, a Cobb jury convicted Frederick Wade Sherwood, 48, of all charges, including rape, aggravated sodomy and child molestation. The attacks occurred between 2014 and 2015 in Sherwood’s Delk Road apartment. The girl was four years old when the assaults began, and she disclosed the abuse to family members in early 2016.

On the witness stand, the child, clutching a stuffed animal, said she didn’t tell anyone about the abuse sooner because she was scared the defendant would be mad at her.

“Any time a small child has to face their abuser in court is particularly difficult,” said ADA Katie Gropper, who prosecuted the case. “We are always hopeful that the judicial process is an empowering step towards healing. While we can’t undo the harm the Defendant caused to this child, the jury’s verdict will help bring a sense of justice and closure and ensure that Mr. Sherwood can never harm another child in our community.”

Jurors also heard from another witness who testified the defendant had sexually abused him years earlier, in another city.

After the verdict, Senior Judge Grant Brantley sentenced Sherwood to serve two consecutive life sentences plus 120 years in prison.

Marietta attorneys Gary Walker and Kevin Connor represented Sherwood, who has been in custody since May 2016.

Cobb Police investigated this case. The trial began Sept. 24.

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