Marietta man gets life in prison for child molestation

Cobb District Flynn Broady announced that a Marietta man, Jason T. Haygood, has been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison plus 25 years following his conviction on child molestation charges.

After 45 minutes of deliberation, a Cobb County jury found Haygood, 46, guilty of three counts of aggravated child molestation, one count of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of child molestation and other related charges. Haygood was sentenced by Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann Harris.

In September 2020 the juvenile victim disclosed to her school counselor that Haygood had been molesting her. When interviewing the victim, detectives learned the molestation occurred from 2010-2020. Prosecutors said the abuse started when the victim was only four years old.

Statements made by the victim were corroborated by police after executing a search warrant at Haygood’s residence. In addition, the victim testified during the trial to the heinous acts that occurred. The District Attorney’s Office comfort dog, Rose, comforted the child during her difficult testimony.

After a 12-person jury convicted Haygood on all counts, Judge Harris commented on “the depravity of the defendant’s actions in not only abusing the victim but grooming her to think the behavior was normal.