CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — A man who was found guilty of sexually abusing children over a span of several decades has been sentenced to life in prison.
The Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office says Harold William Duvall, 71, was sentenced by Judge Tony Baker.
Duvall was convicted Oct. 1 of aggravated child molestation, first-degree children to children and aggravated sodomy.
“Harold Duvall has been molesting children for decades. This case is a reminder that delayed disclosure does not diminish the truth, and that no matter how much time has passed, we will continue to pursue justice for victims of child sexual abuse,” said Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Rachel Hines, who prosecuted this case on behalf of the State.
The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Woodstock Police Department that began in June 2024, when a teenage boy said Duvall forced him to engage in a sexual act when he was five-years-old.
“While investigating the Woodstock case, detectives uncovered similar accusations of child sexual abuse dating back to 1981 that involved other children who were related to or in close contact with Duvall,” Cherokee County officials said.