Former Georgia Mayor Ordered to Pay $10M in Child Sex Abuse Case

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A former mayor of Kennesaw, Georgia, Leonard Church, has been ordered by a Cobb County judge to pay $10 million in damages to a man he admitted to sexually abusing as a child more than a decade ago. Church, who served as mayor from 2000 to 2008, was arrested in 2014 on two counts of felony child molestation and later pleaded guilty, receiving an 18-year prison sentence followed by 22 years of probation as a registered sex offender.

Why it matters

This case highlights the long-lasting impact of child sexual abuse and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable, even years later. It also raises questions about the vetting process for public officials and the need for stronger safeguards to protect vulnerable children in their communities.

The details

According to court records, a boy told his parents that Church had made him look at pornographic material and then molested him. Church was a member of the Kennesaw City Council at the time of his arrest in 2014. He pleaded guilty the following year and was sentenced to 18 years in prison, followed by 22 years on probation as a registered sex offender.

• Church was arrested in June 2014 on two counts of felony child molestation.
• Church pleaded guilty in 2015 and was sentenced to 18 years in prison, followed by 22 years on probation.