Bobby Slaton Sentenced to Life in Rape of 17-Year-Old Victim in View of Infant Son

Defendant Pleads to Rape, Cruelty to Children in 2002 Attack Behind MARTA Station

Atlanta-Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. (Atlanta Judicial Circuit) announces that, following his guilty plea, Bobby Slaton (28) has been sentenced to life in prison for the 25 August 2002 rape of a 17-year-old female victim in front of her 21-month-old son. The defendant pleaded guilty to rape, false imprisonment, and cruelty to children in the second degree. Slaton approached the victim, who was carrying her infant son, as she walked to the Hamilton E. Holmes MARTA station in southwest Atlanta. He offered to arrange a ride for the victim and led her to a wooded area behind the station where he raped her as her son lay on the ground a few feet away. (Slaton had previously been convicted of rape in Fulton County in 1992 and had been sentenced to 10 years in prison.)

"Compounding the horror of the assault this victim endured was the fact that her child was also subjected to this act of brutality," says Mr. Howard. "I applaud Judge Manis for an entirely appropriate sentence that ensures this predator will not strike again."

Senior Assistant District Attorneys Sally Butler and Antje Kingma prosecuted the case, Atlanta Police Detective J. Weldon investigated, and Judge Stephanie Manis presided.

CONTACT: Erik Friedly, 404-224-0560 (office); 404-533-1381 (pager)