Michael Joe Stone II, 34, of Douglas, was convicted by a Coffee County jury on March 21 for raping and molesting his nearly 5 year old daughter in January 2021.
Stone did not have custody of his child at the time but had recently moved in with his sister, who was his child’s guardian. The child sustained injuries as a result of Stone’s actions, and was examined by a sexual assault nurse examiner and interviewed by a specialized child forensic interviewer with Satilla Advocacy Services. The jury heard evidence of the details of the physical exam, the child’s interview, and testimony from Stone’s sister/child’s guardian about the child’s disclosures regarding the allegations which occurred at their residence in Douglas. Stone did not testify.
Honorable Dwayne H. Gillis, Chief Judge for the Waycross Judicial Circuit, presided over the trial, which was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John Rumker. Upon rendering a verdict, the Court proceeded with sentencing. Judge Gillis sentenced Stone to serve 25 years in prison, followed by life on probation. Stone is now required to register as a sex offender and follow special conditions of probation applicable to sex offenders upon his release from prison.
District Attorney Marilyn Bennett would like to thank each juror for their service on this case, and the Douglas Police Department and Satilla Advocacy Services for their agency’s work investigating and prosecuting this case.