Child Molestor Said He 'Tripped' Into Victim's Bed, Gets 40 Years

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – A Gwinnett County jury convicted Ebenezer Buwee, 46, of aggravated child molestation and child molestation Wednesday in connection with his May 2017 sexual assault of a juvenile family member of his girlfriend.

The evidence at trial revealed that at approximately 2 a.m. on May 8, 2017, Buwee entered the female child’s bedroom and carried out the assault. The victim ran from her bedroom and immediately told her family, one of whom was Buwee’s girlfriend. Though the child was extremely distraught, they discouraged her from calling law enforcement. A short time later, however, the victim called 911 to report the incident, but unfortunately when police arrived at the residence those same family members turned them away without allowing them to speak with the child.

Ultimately the victim reached out to extended family and eventually disclosed the abuse to a school counselor later that same morning. At trial, the child’s extended family members testified that when they spoke with the victim on the phone at approximately 3 a.m., she was crying and had difficulty speaking. Additionally, several witnesses described consistent statements by the victim about the assault and a sexual assault nurse examiner testified that the child had sustained injury consistent with her outcry.

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Buwee testified in his own defense and denied the allegations claiming instead that he tripped and fell on the child’s bed. On cross examination, however, he admitted that the victim had no reason to make up the
allegations.

The jury deliberated less than an hour before convicting Buwee of both counts. During the sentencing hearing, the same family members who initially turned the police away appeared on Buwee’s behalf. His girlfriend, a family member of the victim, begged Superior Court Judge George F. Hutchinson, III, to show Buwee “forgiveness” and “mercy” for his “mistake.” Hutchinson, however, admonished Buwee that “this wasn’t a mistake. This was a deliberate act.”

In sentencing him to 40 years in prison with the remainder of his life on probation, Hutchinson added, “you’ve taken something from that young lady that can never be replaced or repaired.”

The Gwinnett County Police Department Special Victims Unit investigated the case.

Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department