Former Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison in Savannah for Child Sexual Abuse

SAVANNAH, Ga.—A former U.S. Army soldier has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing two children on the Fort Stewart Military Reservation.

Austin Michael Burak, 32, of Oak Harbor, Washington, was found guilty of abusive sexual contact of a child and aggravated sexual abuse of a child following a jury trial in the Southern District of Georgia. Chief Judge R. Stan Baker sentenced Burak to a lifetime prison term for each of the two victims.

“There are appropriately severe consequences for sexually assaulting children,” said U.S. Attorney Meg E. Heap. “We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who prey on the most innocent among us. The community is safer now that a sexual predator will spend the rest of his life imprisoned.”

Courtroom testimony revealed that in August 2017, Burak sexually abused and raped two young boys while they slept. Three other witnesses also testified that they had been sexually assaulted by Burak when they were minors, with one witness recounting years of abuse.

The case was investigated by the Army Criminal Investigation Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.