DeKalb County District Attorney
09/11/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/11/2025 14:42
TWO MEN SENTENCED FOR SEX TRAFFICKING YOUNG TEEN IN EXCHANGE FOR RENT MONEY
September 11, 2025
State v. Algie Christian
State v. Terrill Sanford
Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces the conviction by jury trial of two men accused of trafficking a young teen in the care of one of the men.
On July 1, 2025, a jury found Algie Christian, 79, guilty on counts of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude, Aggravated Sexual Battery, and Child Molestation. The jury also convicted Terrill Sanford, 42, of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude.
Today, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Tangela Barrie, who presided over the trial, sentenced Defendant Christian to Life in Prison, and sentenced Defendant Sanford to 50 years to serve 30 in custody with the balance on probation.
According to the investigation, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) responded to a motel located in the 2500 block of Wesley Chappel Road in unincorporated Decatur on July 28, 2022 to meet with a security guard for the business. The guard reported seeing a woman chasing a juvenile on the property. The woman appeared to be out of breath and shaking, so the guard called an ambulance.
The woman told first responders that she was chasing the girl because the juvenile was trying to run away from home. The girl said she was tired of being touched by her "grandfather." After the woman was transported to the hospital, the girl asked the motel security guard if she could go to the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) because she did not feel safe at home. The guard called police and waited with the girl in the motel lobby until they arrived.
DKPD officers met with the juvenile who explained that she did not want to go back to her room at the motel because she was tired of being touched by her "grandfather," who she identified as Algie Christian. The girl said she and the Sanfords previously lived with Defendant Christian in 2021, and while they were staying at his home he would make her have sex with him.
The victim said the abuse continued when they moved into the motel. The girl revealed that she told Defendant Sanford about the abuse, but Defendant Christian paid for the Sanford's rent at the motel and gave Sanford odd jobs.
Police interviewed Defendant Sanford who explained that Christian was not the girl's grandfather, but a family friend and church deacon. Defendant Sanford said he was not aware of the allegations that Defendant Christian was sexually abusing the girl, but confirmed that Christian helped pay their rent and got Sanford jobs at Christian's home improvement company.
Detectives interviewed another security guard at the motel who said many people witnessed Defendant Sanford walking the girl to Defendant Christian's car and leaving her alone with the man on several occasions.
Police arrested Defendant Christian and during an interview, he initially denied sexually abusing the victim, but eventually admitted to sexual contact with her.
The case, assigned to the Child Crimes Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Ashley Warmack, with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Rachel Plevak, District Attorney Investigator Haley Hines and Victim Advocate Jenaiya Coleman. DeKalb County Police Department Detective G.R. Moore led the initial investigation.
State v. Algie Christian
State v. Terrill Sanford
Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces the conviction by jury trial of two men accused of trafficking a young teen in the care of one of the men.
On July 1, 2025, a jury found Algie Christian, 79, guilty on counts of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude, Aggravated Sexual Battery, and Child Molestation. The jury also convicted Terrill Sanford, 42, of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude.
Today, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Tangela Barrie, who presided over the trial, sentenced Defendant Christian to Life in Prison, and sentenced Defendant Sanford to 50 years to serve 30 in custody with the balance on probation.
According to the investigation, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) responded to a motel located in the 2500 block of Wesley Chappel Road in unincorporated Decatur on July 28, 2022 to meet with a security guard for the business. The guard reported seeing a woman chasing a juvenile on the property. The woman appeared to be out of breath and shaking, so the guard called an ambulance.
The woman told first responders that she was chasing the girl because the juvenile was trying to run away from home. The girl said she was tired of being touched by her "grandfather." After the woman was transported to the hospital, the girl asked the motel security guard if she could go to the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) because she did not feel safe at home. The guard called police and waited with the girl in the motel lobby until they arrived.
DKPD officers met with the juvenile who explained that she did not want to go back to her room at the motel because she was tired of being touched by her "grandfather," who she identified as Algie Christian. The girl said she and the Sanfords previously lived with Defendant Christian in 2021, and while they were staying at his home he would make her have sex with him.
The victim said the abuse continued when they moved into the motel. The girl revealed that she told Defendant Sanford about the abuse, but Defendant Christian paid for the Sanford's rent at the motel and gave Sanford odd jobs.
Police interviewed Defendant Sanford who explained that Christian was not the girl's grandfather, but a family friend and church deacon. Defendant Sanford said he was not aware of the allegations that Defendant Christian was sexually abusing the girl, but confirmed that Christian helped pay their rent and got Sanford jobs at Christian's home improvement company.
Detectives interviewed another security guard at the motel who said many people witnessed Defendant Sanford walking the girl to Defendant Christian's car and leaving her alone with the man on several occasions.
Police arrested Defendant Christian and during an interview, he initially denied sexually abusing the victim, but eventually admitted to sexual contact with her.
The case, assigned to the Child Crimes Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Ashley Warmack, with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Rachel Plevak, District Attorney Investigator Haley Hines and Victim Advocate Jenaiya Coleman. DeKalb County Police Department Detective G.R. Moore led the initial investigation.
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