MARIETTA, Ga. — A man accused of molesting three young girls will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
On Monday, a Cobb County jury convicted Manuel Ponce Dominguez, 42, on 19 counts of aggravated child molestation, child molestation, cruelty to children and invasion of privacy, among others. He will serve three consecutive life sentences, plus 45 years.
An investigation by Marietta Police found Dominguez repeatedly sodomized and molested one girl for 12 years, starting when she was just five years old. He later continued to sexually abuse at least two other girls. According to authorities, the attacks occurred in his residences, including a home on Park Street in Marietta.
Police were made aware of the case when one of the victims told a family friend, who reported it to officers. The youngest victim never disclosed the abuse, but the State proved those counts based on admissions the Dominguez made to police.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a hold on Dominguez, a native of Mexico, and he will likely be deported to his home country if he is ever released from prison.
His trial began on Jan. 26.