Former Winder Restaurant Manager Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Attempted Rape

WINDER, GA — The former manager of a local restaurant has been sentenced to 20 years, with 15 years to be served in prison, after pleading guilty to holding a woman against her will and attempting to rape her inside the establishment.

Daniel Barrios Catalan, 47, of Winder, entered a negotiated plea agreement in Barrow County Superior Court on May 29, 2026. He pleaded guilty to felony counts of Aggravated Assault with Intent to Rape and False Imprisonment.

Judge accepted the terms of the plea, sentencing Catalan to a 20-year term, with 15 years in confinement and the remaining five years on probation. He was additionally sentenced to 10 years of consecutive probation, totaling 15 years of community supervision upon his release from prison.

Hospital Whistleblower Sparked Probe

The criminal investigation began on March 4, 2025, when Winder Police Department patrol units were dispatched to an area emergency room. Medical staff at the hospital had contacted law enforcement after a patient arrived for treatment displaying injuries consistent with a severe sexual assault.

Winder detectives launched an intensive investigation utilizing forensic analysis and witness interviews. The evidence pointed directly to Catalan, who was employed at the time as the general manager of the now-closed Latin Flavors restaurant in Winder. Detectives determined that the assault had been initiated and carried out inside the restaurant facility.

Collaborative Effort Secures Conviction

Catalan was subsequently arrested and indicted by a Barrow County grand jury. The case was prepared for trial by local detectives and prosecutors with the Piedmont Judicial Circuit’s District Attorney’s Office before the negotiated plea was finalized.

“This conviction is a direct result of the coordinated efforts of the Winder Police Department and the Piedmont Judicial Circuit’s District Attorney’s Office,” Winder Police Chief Fullington said in an official statement. “The negotiated plea ensures swift justice, holds the offender accountable, and spares the victim from the emotional burden of a prolonged trial.”

Catalan will be transferred from the Barrow County Detention Center to the Georgia Department of Corrections to begin serving his 15-year prison sentence. As a result of the conviction, he will also be required to register as a sex offender for life upon release.