North Georgia Man Sentenced to Life for Rape and Molestation of Minor Family Members
Lafayette, Georgia – A Walker County jury convicted Christian Austin Raines, 24, on all eight counts of sexually-related crimes against two minor family members, following a three-day trial that concluded on December 3, 2025.
Raines was found guilty of serious charges, including:
- Rape
- Aggravated Child Molestation
- Aggravated Sexual Battery
- Child Molestation
- False Imprisonment
Chief Superior Court Judge Brian House presided over the trial.
The Investigation and Evidence
The investigation began in June 2021 when a child family member of Raines was seen crying after coming out of a bathroom with him. The child disclosed that Raines had locked the child in the bathroom and sexually assaulted them. A second young family member then disclosed that Raines had also been molesting that child.
The family immediately reported the disclosures to law enforcement. Both children were interviewed by Senior Forensic Interviewer Holly Kittle at the Children’s Advocacy Center.
- The younger child disclosed additional criminal acts that occurred in the bathroom, stating Raines’s sexual abuse began years before and had recently escalated.
- The older child disclosed that Raines had sexually touched the child.
Medical exams were conducted, and the younger child’s exam showed medical evidence consistent with molestation.
Zach Simpson, formerly of the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case and secured warrants for Raines. Upon arrest, Raines spoke to Simpson and eventually admitted to most of the allegations.
Sentence and Judicial Reasoning
Following the conviction, Chief Judge Brian House held a sentencing hearing. Given the convictions for charges like Rape and Aggravated Child Molestation, Raines faced potential penalties of life imprisonment under Georgia law.
Judge House sentenced Raines to a Life Sentence with the first 30 years to be served in prison. The Judge specifically cited Raines’s lack of remorse, noted by Assistant District Attorney (ADA) David Wolfe, as the reasoning for the severity of the sentence.
District Attorney Clayton M. Fuller of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit praised the prosecution team and issued a strong statement regarding the circuit’s approach to such crimes:
“Let me be clear: in other circuits, monsters like this might squeeze out a soft plea. In the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, we take you to trial. David Wolfe is a fearless prosecutor. We don’t hand out deals because we’re scared to pick a jury—we fight for the toughest sentence the law allows. You hurt a child in this community, and we will come for you. And we won’t miss.”
The case was prosecuted by ADA David Wolfe, with assistance from Victim Witness Advocate Ashley Nicholson.
