Following court testimony from the 7-year-old victim, a Buford man was found guilty of sexually abusing the child, while the girl’s mother was convicted of coaching the child to lie about the abuse.
Javen Tyree Richardson, 25, was convicted by a Gwinnett County jury in February on four counts of aggravated child molestation. Akilah Amin, the child’s 30-year-old mother, was convicted of one count of influencing a witness and one count of cruelty to children in the second degree.
Richardson was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences with the first 80 years to serve in prison, while Amin was sentenced to 20 years with the first seven years to serve in prison. Both defendants have been ordered to register as sex offenders and to have no contact with the victim and her siblings.
According to information released by the Office of the District Attorney, Richardson sexually abused the girl several times, and the victim disclosed the abuse at school. During court, it was revealed that the child’s mother then coached her to change her story and lie to officials about what happened in an attempt to get Richardson released from jail.
“Justice for this young victim begins with the outcome of this trial,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said in a news release from her office. “Her family and her loved ones must continue to help her recover and heal.”
Special Victims Unit Managing Assistant District Attorney Megan Matteucci and Assistant District Attorney Kathy Li prosecuted the case with assistance from SVU Investigator Jessica Pironis and Victim Witness Advocate Rocio Pineda.
FEATURED PHOTO: Javen Tyree Richardson, left, was convicted by a Gwinnett County jury in February on four counts of aggravated child molestation. Akilah Amin, right, the child’s 30-year-old mother, was convicted of one count of influencing a witness and one count of cruelty to children in the second degree. Photos courtesy of the Gwinnett County Office of the District Attorney.
