An Effingham County jury found a man guilty of rape, aggravated sodomy, and child molestation Tuesday after a two-day trial.
Jacob Edgar Knowlton was found guilty on Tuesday for abuse that reportedly occurred over eleven months in 2023. A press release from District Attorney Catherine Sumner’s office announced the details following the guilty verdict on all three counts.
According to the press release, an investigation “confirmed that Knowlton forced the victim to engage in acts of sexual intercourse and oral sex on multiple occasions,” prompting his arrest. Knowlton was 18-years-old at the time.
Superior Court Judge Michael Muldrew is expected to sentence Knowlton on Thursday, November 5. According to the District Attorney’s Office, the rape and aggravated sodomy convictions each carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 25 years to be served without the possibility of parole. The child molestation conviction carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Knowlton will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Sumner thanked both the Rincon Police Department and the Statesboro Regional Sexual Assault & Child Advocacy Center for their work on the case.
Assistant District Attorney Ben Edwards prosecuted the case for the state.
The district attorney’s office identified the victim’s relationship to Knowlton, however, TheGeorgiaVirtue opted not to publish the relationship as it revealed identifying details on a victim of sexual assault..
