Houston County man pleads guilty to child molestation

HOUSTON COUNTY — A man faces 25 years in prison for child molestation after entering a guilty plea April 11, according to the Houston County District Attorney’s Office. The DA’s office said in a release Matthew Delp, 40, entered the plea Thursday for one count of aggravated child molestation.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison without parole and life on probation. Upon release, Delp will need to register as a sex offender and abide by sex offender conditions while on probation.

The charges come from acts of oral sodomy and intercourse inflicted on a 14-year-old in November 2021. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations successfully analyzed recovered DNA and linked the act to Delp.

The case was investigated by Houston County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Adrienne Hilton and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Justin Duane, who commented on the case.

“This is a rare case where we had DNA evidence — we normally don’t have DNA in these types of cases. I’m glad that Mr. Delp took responsibility for his disgusting actions and I’m grateful that the child can close this chapter of her life,” Duane said. “Mr. Delp had no criminal history and was an otherwise upstanding member of the community. This case demonstrates that the perpetrators of sexual abuse on children can be those you least expect. I am grateful for Sgt. Hilton’s hard work on this case and for the work of the Crescent House Child Advocacy Center. 

District Attorney Will Kendall also spoke on the case and the office’s role in bringing justice for the victim’s family.

“Our children are our future, we must protect them and be their voice in the court of law. In this case, the defendant opted out of trial in the 11th hour and took a plea which will keep him locked up behind bars and out of our society for the next 25 years without the opportunity of parole,” Kendall said. “Our world can be dark at times, and it is up to our community, law enforcement and prosecutors to bring back a bit of light. We cannot undo the heinous acts that have been done, but we hope this helps provide some closure and comfort to our victim and the family.”