(Lawrenceville, Ga., 3/11/25) – A Buford man was found guilty of sexually abusing a 5-year-old child and downloading child pornography for several years.

David Antonio Perez, 50, was convicted of child molestation and sexual exploitation of children for molesting and showing child pornography to the child multiple times a week for about a year.

He was sentenced to 40 years in prison to serve 39.

“We sincerely hope that this victim and her family can heal from this man’s despicable acts,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “This verdict and sentence are only part of the justice this child deserves. Helping her to recover and return to a normal life is a part of that justice, and our office and our community can engage.”

Evidence showed Perez downloaded and shared more than 8,000 child pornographic videos through his email.

Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit Managing Assistant District Attorney Megan Matteucci and Managing Assistant District Attorney Gerald Henderson prosecuted the case. DA’s SVU investigators Joseph Boyd and victim witness advocate Esther Askew assisted with the case. The Gwinnett County Police Department was also instrumental in closing the case.