Marietta Child Rapist Gets Three Consecutive Life Sentences

MARIETTA, GA -- A Marietta man has been ordered to serve three consecutive life sentences for raping a special-needs teenager. After a weeklong trial, a Cobb jury deliberated only about an hour on Friday before convicting Johnny Pennamon, 66, of rape, incest, aggravated sodomy, sexual battery and other charges. Pennamon was arrested in fall 2015 after being found trying to enter the victim’s bedroom window in the middle of the night.

A few months later, while in therapy, the girl disclosed that Pennamon had assaulted her repeatedly throughout 2015 when she was left in his care at a Marietta apartment.

“It was evident the defendant preyed on this child because he believed he could easily exploit her due to her cognitive delays. He assumed she would never tell, and that even if she did, nobody would believe her. He clearly misjudged her,” said ADA Courtney Veal, who prosecuted the case. “Because of her bravery, he has been held accountable and will never again have the opportunity to prey on or harm another innocent child.”

Shortly after the verdict, Cobb Senior Superior Court Judge G. Grant Brantley sentenced Pennamon to serve three life sentences, to run consecutively.