After 5:30 pm tonight, a Newton County jury found Carey Donovan Clark guilty of 6 counts of Cruelty to Children in the 2nd Degree and 1 count of Aggravated Battery. These charges stem from the abuse and neglect of multiple children, all under 10 years of age. This includes making the children perform exercises and not providing the necessary sustenance to the children. A doctor from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta testified that what the children endured was torture.
In December of 2023, the codefendant, Nora Rodgers was sentenced for her involvement in these abuse and neglect to 60 years with the first 30 years in confinement. That sentence recognized the seriousness of the abuse and neglect. As stated at the time of her sentence: "Over the years the children had suffered torture under the guise of punishment. They were forced to do extreme bootcamp style exercises. They would have to run laps, squats with large logs from the yard, jumping jacks, etc., for extended time periods and to the point of exhaustion and injury. They would often have to perform these exercises in the middle of the night and in the heat of summer. When the exercises were not performed to Rodgers liking, she would then beat them. Rodgers would also spar with children, striking and hitting them."
Clark's case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Bailey Wilkinson, Senior Victim Advocate Shay Payne, Investigator Jeff Diller, Trial Assistant Danielle Miller, and Legal Assistant Sheila Cornelius. The investigator and arrest was handled by the Newton County Sheriff's Office, led by Investigator Jocelyn Detweiler. Newton County and Cherokee County DFCS was also involved in the matter. The victims received services from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and A Child's Voice Child Advocacy Center.
After the verdict, the Court ordered the Defendant to be taken into custody until a later sentencing date and ordered a pre-sentencing investigation report to be completed.
"I want to thank the hard work of the prosecution team, the law enforcement officers, and the other agencies that were involved in this case. The dedication to the victims over the last 4 and a half years is inspiring. And, as I said after Rodger's sentencing, a special thanks goes to the foster parents who cared for the children after their abuse and family of the children who reported the abuse. Those that step up to raise and care for children that have been abused are truly angels. - DA Randy McGinley
