Chattooga County Man Sentenced to Life for Decadelong Abuse of Minor Relative
SUMMERVILLE, GA — A 46-year-old man will spend at least the next three decades behind bars after a Chattooga County jury found him guilty of a series of violent sexual crimes against a young family member. Ricky Lamar Blackmon was convicted on all seven counts of sexually-based offenses on February 19, 2026, following a three-day trial.
Chief Superior Court Judge Brian House presided over the case and delivered the life sentence immediately following the verdict.
A Timeline of Disclosure and Deception
The investigation into Blackmon began in February 2020 after the victim, then a minor, confided in a friend’s mother. The subsequent investigation by the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) revealed a harrowing pattern of abuse:
- Initial Outcry: Forensic interviewer Janet Burch documented disclosures of inappropriate touching and the taking of topless photographs that began when the victim was 12 years old.
- The Rape Disclosure: After several years of therapy to process the trauma, the victim later disclosed that Blackmon had raped her when she was 13.
- Evidence Tampering: When Investigator Wendell Flood initially questioned Blackmon, the suspect claimed he did not have his phone. He turned the device over a month later, but forensic analysis proved he had wiped all data three days prior to surrendering it.
- Incriminating Texts: Despite the deleted data, investigators recovered messages from the victim’s phone. In those exchanges, the victim confronted Blackmon about the abuse; Blackmon notably failed to deny the allegations and instead acknowledged the acts in his responses.
Sentence: Life with 30 Years Mandatory
Judge House sentenced Blackmon to Life in Prison, specifically ordering that the first 30 years be served without the possibility of parole.
Acting District Attorney Deanna Reisman praised the victim’s bravery and the work of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit team, including Assistant D.A. David Wolfe and Chief Investigator Christy Smith.
“The guilty verdict in this case represents justice for a young victim who showed extraordinary courage in coming forward about the abuse she suffered at the hands of someone who was supposed to protect her,” Reisman stated.
