Lawrenceville Man Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing Two Minors

A Gwinnett County jury found Catalino Avilez-Carteno, 52, guilty of five counts of rape, five counts of aggravated sexual battery, four counts of child molestation, two counts of aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation, and aggravated assault. He will be sentenced on Thursday, Nov. 14.

“This defendant abused these young women from an early age into adulthood,” District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said.

Avilez-Carteno repeatedly raped and sexually abused the two female acquaintances from ages 12 to 21. The abuse occurred at two different Lawrenceville homes. When the two victims reported Avilez-Carteno while he was having a drunken rage, he tried to stab a family member in front of them.

During the week-long trial, jurors heard from both victims, who emotionally described that they never consented to any of the abuse. They also described the trauma and pain that the abuse caused them and continues to cause them now as young adults.

“We pray that the justice brought from this verdict will aid in their healing from this abuse,” Austin-Gatson said.

Assistant District Attorney Nicole Eck and Managing Assistant District Attorney Marlene Oldeen prosecuted the case. Victim Witness Advocate Rocio Pineda and investigators from the DA’s Special Victims Unit assisted with the case.