Acworth Man Sentenced To 20 Years For Aggravated Battery: Police

ACWORTH, GA — An Acworth man was recently sentenced after violently attacking his girlfriend.

District Attorney Shannon Wallace said that James Waylon Bailey, 40, was convicted of aggravated battery and other charges.

The charges stem from a violent assault on February 22, 2018 during which Bailey physically attacked his girlfriend, punching her in the face and causing a blowout fracture of her left orbital bone.

Although the victim did not initially report the incident, when she went to an emergency room for treatment, a nurse called law enforcement to report suspected domestic violence. Several weeks later, after encouragement from her family, the victim contacted the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and described a history of abuse, including the most recent assault.

“Victims of domestic violence often do not report these types of crimes because they are afraid for their safety, blame themselves for the abuse, or want to protect the person who is hurting them,” said Assistant District Attorney Rachel Ashe, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the state. “It’s a vicious cycle, and we are fortunate that the victim found the courage to break free from the cycle.”

During a bench trial on Oct. 30, the victim testified that she did not report the abuse sooner because she believed the defendant would change each time he claimed he wouldn’t abuse her again.

Although this was the first time the defendant stood trial for an assault, Judge Tony Baker took the unreported incidents into consideration when he handed down his sentence of 20 years, with five years to serve in confinement in the state penal system.

“One of the most troubling aspects of domestic violence is that victims are reluctant to report these crimes, even after a brutal attack like this one. It’s heartbreaking to hear a victim say her boyfriend beat her ‘more times than I can count,’” Wallace said. “I am thankful that the court took into consideration past unreported offenses when determining this defendant’s sentence.”