Convicted Child Molester Sentenced To Life in Prison

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A convicted child molester will spend the rest of his life behind bars for sex crimes against a young girl in his care.

John Dries, 62, was sentenced to seven consecutive life terms plus 80 years and an additional 10 years on probation by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Alford Dempsey, the Fulton County District Attorney’s office said in a press release.

Dries was convicted on Feb. 2 of all charges in the 11-count indictment against him, including criminal attempt to commit rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sexual battery, child molestation and cruelty to children in the first degree.

The charges against Dries date back to 2007 when he began babysitting and periodically caring for a friend’s four-year old daughter in Sandy Springs.

Dries initially began lavishing the child with gifts and then over the course of the next four years progressed to kissing, fondling and forcing the victim to engage in various sex acts, the Fulton County DA’s office said.

The abuse came to light in 2011 when the victim disclosed the defendant’s behavior to a therapist. Police were immediately contacted and an investigation ensued. Dries was arrested in November 2011 at his Marietta home.

The case was prosecuted by senior assistant district attorney John Williams assigned to the Crimes Against Women and Children Unit with assistance from ADA Lauren McAuley and DA Investigator Garielle Booker-Parks.

Detective Sandy Rose of the Sandy Springs Police Department led the initial investigation.

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