Macon man sentenced to life for sexual assault of minors

Torrence Thornton convicted on multiple counts including rape and sodomy

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A man accused of sexually molesting his 14-year-old neighbor and another young victim was found guilty of several charges on Tuesday and sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 90 years.

A Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office news release says a Bibb County Superior Court jury reached their verdict after 20 minutes of deliberation.

The DA’s Office says 49-year-old Torrence Thornton was found guilty on a 10-count indictment of charges, including rape, statutory rape, aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation, two counts of child molestation, two counts of HIV reckless conduct and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

In 2017, the DA’s Office says Thornton began sexually molesting his 14-year-old neighbor using his relationship with her guardian to gain access to her. The assaults continued for nearly a year before the child disclosed them. An investigation revealed there was a second young victim.

“On that occasion, the first victim, along with her friend, were cleaning Thornton’s house when he locked them in his bedroom at gun point, then raped and sodomized both,” the release said.

The children were scared to report him, the DA’s Office says, but after discovering she was HIV positive, the 14-year-old victim told medical personnel about what had been happening to her.

Tuesday’s verdict came after nearly seven years of legal maneuvers and multiple attorney switches by Thornton, the DA’s Office said, calling it the oldest incarcerated case in the Bibb County Jail.

“My heart is truly saddened by the horrific events these two young girls were forced to endure at the hands of this predator,” District Attorney Anita Howard said. “His actions, in effect, sentenced them both to a lifetime of nightmares, guilt and shame, including a lifetime of HIV infection for one young victim. I am so proud of these young ladies for their commitment to seeing this case through to its rightful culmination.”

The DA’s Office thanked the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office for its investigation of the case.