MAN WHO MOLESTS 4-YEAR-OLD FOUND GUILTY

Martin Canty Convicted of Fondling His Step-granddaughter-Gets 25 Years

On February 21, 2007, while watching television, a mother causally asked her 4-year-old daughter what she wanted to be when she grew up. The child answered that she wanted to be a doctor, but added, "I don't want to go to the doctor because they make your 'poo-poo' hurt." After questioning her daughter further the mother learned that her step-father, Martin Canty, had been molesting her child when she visited her grandparents. The child's mother called police and took her to Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital where she underwent an examination.

On Thursday, January 10, 2008, after a 4-day trial, a Fulton County Superior Court jury found the 44-year-old Canty guilty of one count of child molestation and one count of aggravated sexual battery. Judge Jerry Baxter imposed the mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison on the aggravated sexual battery charge and sentenced him to 5 years on the child molestation charge-to run concurrently.

District Attorney Paul Howard says "our office is putting these predators and child molesters on notice that if you harm a child in Fulton County, we are going to indict and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law…and we will seek penalties that will keep you away from our children."

This case was tried by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Esmond Adams. Atlanta Police Department Detective C. R. Hampton and Investigator Antoinette Beyah of the DA's Office conducted the investigation. Shantae Wilson of the DA's Victim-Witness Assistance Program provided services to the family.

CONTACT: Lyn Vaughn, 404.730.6860 (office); 770.597.6963 (cell); lyn.vaughn@co.fulton.ga.us