Upson Superior Court Child Molestation Pleas

On February 3, 2025, Michael Brandon McGinnis pleaded guilty to three (3) Counts of Child Molestation and one Count of Simple Battery. The Honorable W. Fletcher Sams of the Upson County Superior Court sentenced him to 40 years, with the first 20 years to serve followed by 20 years on probation.  He will be subject to all sex offender conditions. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John C. McAbee along with the assistance of his team, Investigator Tim Ledbetter, victim advocate, Monique Jones, and assistant Lori Harper. The case was investigated by Sgt. Jeff Taylor of the Upson County Sheriff’s Office.

The evidence showed that between October 2022 and May 2023, McGinnis threatened to harm a 15-year-old female to get her to have sex with him, which she did dozens of times. He was violent with her on several occasions over the course of these months, pointing a firearm at her and slamming her head on the floor.  The Defendant confessed to having sex with the child at least twenty (20) times and confessed to knowing her age. He also confessed to forcing her to engage in sexual acts with him.

Also on February 3, 2025, Thomas Avery Reed pleaded guilty to three (3) Counts of Aggravated Child Molestation. The Honorable W. Fletcher Sams of the Upson County Superior Court sentenced him to Life, with the first 25 years to serve and the remainder of his life on probation. He will be subject to all sex offender conditions. He will not be eligible for parole during the 25 years he is serving. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John C. McAbee along with the assistance of his team, Investigator Tim Ledbetter, victim advocate, Monique Jones, and assistant Lori Harper. The case was investigated by Sgt. David Walker of the Upson County Sheriff’s Office.

The evidence showed that between January 21, 2024 and January 22, 2024 the Defendant was living in a camper with a thirteen (13) year old female child when he had sex with her. He placed his hands around her neck and threatened to kill her if she told anyone. He engaged in sexual acts with her multiple times, once while she was asleep. He gave the child suspected drugs twice and sent sexual text messages and photographs to her.

“We take child molestation cases very seriously in the Griffin Judicial Circuit and will continue to relentlessly prosecute offenses against children. We stand up for them because these crimes affect them their whole lives. I would like to thank the Upson County Sheriff’s Office for their diligent work in investigating these two cases,” said District Attorney Marie G. Broder.