A Calhoun man has been sentenced to life in prison, with the first 30 years to be served behind bars, after a Gordon County jury convicted him of raping and abusing his disabled wife.
Alvaro Perez-y-Perez, 38, was found guilty of Rape, Sexual Abuse of a Disabled Adult, and three misdemeanor charges following a week-long trial that began Oct. 20. Jurors heard emotional testimony from multiple witnesses, including family members of the victim.
Prosecutors said the victim suffers from a severe degenerative muscular disease that has left her with limited use of her arms and legs. Perez-y-Perez served as her primary caregiver, responsible for feeding, bathing, and daily support.
Evidence presented at trial showed Perez-y-Perez kicked his wife’s legs hard enough to leave visible bruises and threatened to tape her mouth shut when she asked for food.
“What made this case particularly heinous was the fact that the victim was incapable of defending herself from her abuser,” said Assistant District Attorney Colleen Hampton, who prosecuted the case. “Her abuser was the person she relied on for her daily care.”
The abuse came to light when the victim reached out to the Gordon County Domestic Violence Outreach Office for help. The Calhoun Police Department conducted the investigation.
Superior Court Judge Samir J. Patel, who presided over the trial, imposed the life sentence during a Dec. 4 hearing. Judge Patel emphasized that rape is among the most serious crimes under Georgia law and carries correspondingly severe penalties.
