COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The former mayor of Kennesaw passed on a plea deal and admitted to child molestation charges on Monday.
Leonard Church, 67, stood before a Cobb County judge and pleaded guilty to two counts of child molestation and four counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
He is a two-term mayor who most recently served on the City Council.
Church admitted he molested a 9-year-old and exposed the child to 800,000 images of child pornography.
Channel 2's Dave Huddleston sat in the courtroom behind Church as he received his sentence – 40 years in prison to serve 18.
Church will be 85 years old when he gets out of prison under strict supervision that keeps him away from all minors.
Prosecutors said Church abused the boy in the spring of 2014.
"Hopefully by what's happened today the parents can explain to this young victim that you were believed. That not only did the DA's office believe you but everyone in the court system because this defendant has accepted responsibility," said Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds.
Church was offered a plea deal two months ago but rejected it. The sentence is more severe but it's a sentence that prosecutors and the victim's family said provides justice.
A special election for Church's council seat will be held in May.
WSBTV
