A Georgia mother has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after a jury convicted her of aggravated assault and cruelty to children. Candice McClure, 35, from Lenox, abused the same child for nearly a decade, including beatings that left bruises on the legs and a belt mark on the forehead. The case came to light when the child disclosed the abuse to an elementary school teacher in 2023.
Cherokee County District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway announced the sentencing of Candice McClure following a four-day trial. The jury deliberated for two and a half hours before finding her guilty. Prosecutors presented testimony from a dozen witnesses, including the child victim, family members, law enforcement, medical providers, and school personnel, along with 20 exhibits such as injury photos and a recorded forensic interview. McClure had a prior arrest in 2016 for child cruelty when the child, then 4 years old, had unexplainable bruises from head to toe, according to the DA's office and earlier news reports from The Valdosta Daily Times and Thomasville Times-Enterprise. The abuse continued after the family moved to Cherokee County, with investigators noting it had been ongoing prior to their arrival. The child's disclosure to a teacher prompted a report to the Division of Family & Children Services and Canton Police Department. During an unannounced home visit, DFCS workers photographed bruising on the child's leg and a patterned forehead injury. Medical staff at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta confirmed significant leg bruising and a belt-strike mark on the forehead. The indictment detailed McClure strangling the child by applying pressure to the neck and throat, and maliciously striking the legs, causing cruel physical and mental pain. At sentencing, the child, accompanied by an adoptive parent, victim advocate, and service dog Parker, delivered a victim impact statement. The child expressed gratitude for being heard by the jury and stated no one deserves such treatment. Judge Wallace acknowledged the child's trauma before imposing the maximum sentence allowed under Georgia law. Treadaway praised the teachers as heroes for recognizing abuse signs and creating a safe space. She called the abuse heartbreaking and emphasized Cherokee County's intolerance for child abuse.