(Marietta, GA – July 6, 2023) Cobb County District Attorney Flynn D. Broady, Jr. announces that a Cobb County jury has found Jason Lamont Callahan, 46, guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual battery and six counts of child molestation. Cobb Superior Court Judge Julie Adams Jacobs sentenced Callahan to life in prison.

On March 18, 2019, Smyrna Police Department was contacted by King Springs Elementary School regarding a female student who had disclosed to her teacher that her stepfather, the defendant, had been sexually abusing her. The student was too scared to go home because of what her stepfather was doing to her. The case was then transferred to Cobb County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit for investigation. During an interview with the victim, detectives learned that the victim was molested and sexually abused repeatedly beginning in 2017. The victim also disclosed that she felt Callahan liked to torture her. She explained that she felt like she was dying inside during the years this happened. The victim was not initially supported by her mother, who eventually married the defendant despite the disclosure.

During the trial, the victim testified about the sexual abuse. The mother also testified in trial despite the difficult circumstances. A 12-person jury quickly returned a verdict of guilty on eight of the nine counts in the indictment.

Assistant District Attorney Lindsey McClure-So prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Georgia. Local attorney Charles Engelberger represented Callahan during the trial and sentencing. After sentencing, McClure-So said, “This defendant knew the victim was afraid of him. He thought he could keep abusing her and she wouldn’t say anything. The bravery of this victim to come forward with her disclosure and testimony in front of her abuser at such a young age should be commended. We are grateful for the hard work of this jury and the Cobb County Police Department for ensuring that justice was served for these heinous acts.”

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911. If you or someone you know has been a victim of child sexual assault, please contact your local police department to file a report. For additional resources, please contact SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center at 770-801-3465.

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