Snellville Elderly Man Sentenced for Sexual Assaults at Lawrenceville Pool

Lawrenceville, GA – A 70-year-old man from Snellville has been sentenced to five years in prison and two years of probation for sexually assaulting two girls and two women at a Lawrenceville aquatic center in April 2024.

William Michael Hegwood was found guilty of felony sexual battery against a child under 16 and two counts of misdemeanor sexual battery. The incidents occurred in the lazy river of a public pool, where multiple victims reported being inappropriately touched.

District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson called the acts “depraved behavior” and emphasized the importance of safety in public spaces.

Gwinnett County Police responded after witnesses, including parents and other victims, alerted lifeguards. The case was prosecuted by Special Victims Unit attorneys with assistance from investigators and victim advocates, highlighting a coordinated effort to hold Hegwood accountable.