EAST POINT, Ga. — A woman who said a former East Point police officer sexually assaulted her broke down on the stand during the first day of testimony in his trial.
Richard Gooddine faces 19 counts, including child molestation, violation of oath and sexual assault by a law enforcement officer. Prosecutors said Gooddine used his badge to prey on women and children.
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Assistant Fulton County District Attorney Yolanda Mack called a woman to the stand who said she was sexually assaulted by Gooddine when she was 14 years old. She became emotional describing what happened and had to stop her testimony at one point.
“I’m sorry, can I get some water?” said the woman, who is now 24 years old. She said Gooddine attacked her while mentoring her. “There’s no word that can explain how I felt,” she testified.
Mack told the jury Gooddine faces 19 counts. “And he is guilty of every single count,” she said.
Prosecutors said during opening statements that Gooddine attacked two children and three women from 2011 to 2018 ranging in age from 14 to 55.
Mack said he inappropriately touched the victims, pretending to search them. It happened sometimes after he made arrests or during a traffic stop, she said.
“What he did was prey on the vulnerable women and children,” she told the jury.
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Gooddine’s attorneys said the allegations could not be proven when they were investigated years ago. Christopher Upshaw told the jury the state’s case has holes in it. He also mentioned four of the five alleged victims have the same civil attorney.
“We will show you that there is an ulterior motive and there’s a reason that does not involve Mr. Gooddine’s guilt,” he said.
Mack asked the jury to return a verdict that not only seeks the truth, “But holds him accountable for what he did to these women.”
Prosecutors said when one victim Gooddine sexually assaulted went to the hospital, he suddenly showed up there to try to intimidate her. The defense said Gooddine is not guilty and cooperated with any and all investigation into these incidents.
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Testimony will resume Monday morning.
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