Paulding County Man Sentenced to Life Plus 80 Years in Sexual Assault and Gang Case

DALLAS, Ga. – A Paulding County jury has found a 22-year-old Dallas man guilty of rape, aggravated child molestation, and multiple gang-related charges, resulting in a life sentence plus decades behind bars.

District Attorney Robert S. Lane announced that on January 15, 2026, jurors convicted Jaylen A. McCrary on charges of rape, aggravated child molestation, and four counts of violating Georgia’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. The verdict followed a four-day trial stemming from a Paulding County Sheriff’s Office investigation that began on January 31, 2023, after the victim reported being sexually assaulted.

During the trial, the victim testified about the abuse, supported by testimony from lead investigator Fred Berke, who now serves as Chief Investigator for the District Attorney’s Office. After several hours of deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts.

“Rape and child molestation are among the most insidious crimes we prosecute,” Lane said in a statement. “They rob victims, especially children, of their innocence and their sense of safety. This conviction sends a clear message that in Paulding County, these crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Honorable Dean C. Bucci presided over the trial and sentencing. During the sentencing hearing, the victim delivered an impact statement describing the lasting emotional trauma and the long road to recovery. Judge Bucci sentenced McCrary to life in prison, plus an additional 80 years to be served in confinement with the Georgia Department of Corrections.

The case was investigated by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jill Hartsfield and Assistant District Attorney Christina Morgan Young.