An ex-DeKalb County policeman has been sentenced to serve 15 years in prison after his guilty plea on multiple charges involving sex with underaged girls.

Thirty-year-old Quevius Thornton must also serve 10 years on probation and register as a sex offender upon his release.  He pleaded guilty to four counts of child molestation, five counts of statutory rape, four counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes, contributing to delinquency of a minor, simple battery and possession of marijuana.

DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James says his prayers go out to the victims and their families.  He said Thornton betrayed the trust of his community.

"Quevius Thornton exploited his position and preyed upon two innocent victims in 2010," said James. "His actions were simply inexcusable and deplorable."

An indictment in July alleged that Thornton had sex--both intercourse and oral--with two different 15-year-old girls several times from October to December of 2010, sometimes in his car in the parking lot of Dunaire Elementary School on South Indian Creek Drive.  Other sexual encounters took place at a park, at Thornton's home, and at a different DeKalb elementary school.  The victims say he offered them marijuana he had confiscated from suspects during the encounters.

According to the document, he also slapped one girl during one of their meetings.

Judge Cynthia Becker also spoke about the betrayal of trust during Monday's sentencing, where a prosecutor pointed out that the family of one of the girls had always considered Thornton a mentor before this happened to her.

"I'm not in a position to forgive you," Becker said. "I'm appalled."


Thornton joined the DeKalb Police Department in 2008.  He apologized in court and said he takes full responsibility for his actions.

"The person who stands before you is not a bad guy," Thornton said. "I'm a good person who made a bad mistake...I was a responsible adult and should have used better judgment."