Newton County Jury Convicts Man in Child Abuse Torture Case

A Newton County jury on Thursday, April 3rd, found Carey Donovan Clark guilty of six counts of Cruelty to Children in the 2nd Degree and one count of Aggravated Battery. The verdict followed a trial detailing the abuse and neglect of multiple children under the age of 10.

Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Clark subjected the children to excessive physical exercises and deprived them of necessary sustenance. A medical professional from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta testified that the treatment the children endured amounted to torture.

Clark’s conviction follows the sentencing of his codefendant, Nora Rodgers, in December 2023. Rodgers received a 60-year sentence, with the first 30 years to be served in confinement, for her role in the abuse and neglect. At the time of Rodgers’ sentencing, the court acknowledged the severity of the prolonged torture inflicted upon the children under the guise of punishment. This included forcing extreme “bootcamp-style” exercises such as extended running, squats with heavy logs, and jumping jacks, often performed in the middle of the night or in extreme weather conditions, leading to exhaustion and injury. Rodgers was also found to have physically abused the children through beatings and sparring.

The prosecution team for Clark’s case included Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Bailey Wilkinson, Senior Victim Advocate Shay Payne, Investigator Jeff Diller, Trial Assistant Danielle Miller, and Legal Assistant Sheila Cornelius. The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, led by Investigator Jocelyn Detweiler, with assistance from Newton County and Cherokee County DFCS. The child victims received support and services from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and A Child’s Voice Child Advocacy Center.

Following the guilty verdict, the Court ordered Clark to be taken into custody pending a future sentencing hearing. A pre-sentencing investigation report has also been ordered.

District Attorney Randy McGinley praised the dedication of the prosecution team, law enforcement officers, and other involved agencies for their work over the past four and a half years. He also extended special thanks to the foster parents who cared for the children after the abuse and to the family members who initially reported the abuse, calling those who step up to care for abused children “truly angels.”