Cobb County Jury Convicts 37-Year-Old Man of Rape and Incest, Sentenced to Life Plus 30 Years
Marietta, GA – A Cobb County jury has found Babatunde Reed-Tacla, 37, guilty of rape and incest after a trial revealed he repeatedly sexually abused a 12-year-old family member, exploiting the child’s prior victimization by another household member.
Superior Court Judge Angela Z. Brown sentenced Reed-Tacla to life in prison plus an additional 30 years following the verdict.
According to evidence presented at trial, the abuse began in 2022, shortly after Reed-Tacla learned that the minor was already being sexually abused by another adult male living in the home. Rather than protecting the child, Reed-Tacla began his own pattern of abuse, falsely claiming the sexual acts were “medical inspections” to check for sexually transmitted infections.
The crimes came to light on June 22, 2023, when the child disclosed the ongoing abuse to a trusted caregiver. The caregiver immediately contacted the Hiram Police Department, which launched an investigation and led to Reed-Tacla’s arrest.
“This verdict reflects the jury’s dedication to justice and the State’s commitment to protecting victims of sexual abuse,” said Cobb County District Attorney Sonya F. Allen. “It is extremely troubling that this man compounded the trauma this child experienced at the hand of another predator. We must do better to protect our children.”
Reed-Tacla remains under active investigation and faces the possibility of additional charges in neighboring Paulding County related to the same victim and case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Nigel Lush and Brittany Hutton, with support from Investigators Allonya Ragland and Jason Johnson, along with victim advocates Talia Morhbi and Crystal Gossett.
Resources for survivors of sexual abuse and their families include:
- LiveSAFE: 770-427-3390 | www.livesaferesources.org
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673) | www.rainn.org
- RedBud Blossom Family Justice Center: 770-528-8121 | www.RedBudBlossomFJC.org
