ATLANTA — A Fulton County jury found Joseph Harris guilty on four counts of child sexual abuse. His victim was a 10-year-old child at the time.
The judge sentenced Harris to life with the possibility of parole.
The verdict was handed down Oct. 19, according to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
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Willis stated that Harris was charged with two counts of aggravated child molestation and two counts of child molestation.
The victim’s mother reported Harris’ sexual abuse to police in September 2019, after her daughter told her of the abuse.
At the time, Harris was caring for the woman’s daughter in their home.
The child gave a graphic detail of abuse Harris did to her while she was under his care.
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Harris accused the child of lying. He was on probation at the time for a 2010 conviction on conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
“The defendant’s cruel and repeated sexual abuse of a child entrusted to his care is reprehensible, and he deserves every day of the sentence he received,” Willis said. “This young girl and her mother showed tremendous courage throughout this ordeal and in their pursuit of justice, and I hope this verdict brings their family some peace after years of pain.”
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