Cobb County man convicted of raping and sexually abusing a girl

COBB COUNTY, Ga. – A Cobb County man was sentenced to life in prison last week after being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a girl in his home, according to a news release from the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office.

James Westly, 41, was found guilty of rape and three counts of child molestation and sentenced last week by a Cobb County Superior Court judge.

The investigation into the crime began in March 2023, when the Cobb County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit learned of the reported rape and molestation from the victim’s mother. The girl, who was under 16, had told her mother that she had been “repeatedly abused” by Westly between 2021 and 2022.

According to the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office, the girl told her mother that Westly had touched her inappropriately while she was at his home. Westly denied these allegations, but cell phone records confirmed that the victim was at Westly’s home during the incidents.

This was not the first time Westly was accused and convicted of child abuse. In 2003, Westly was found guilty of aggravated child abuse and child abuse of family members in Atlanta. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for these crimes.

The victims’ family members were allowed to testify in the latest trial, and prosecutors said they had reported abuse similar to that described by the victim in the latest case.

“We are deeply impressed by the courage of the victim in speaking out against her abuser. Her courage was crucial to ensuring justice was served and to preventing the perpetrator from harming others,” said District Attorney Flynn D. Broady Jr.