Paul BurnsWALTON COUNTY, FL (CBS ATLANTA) -
A former DeKalb County man was sentenced to life in prison for the sexual battery of a 10-year-old autistic girl.
Paul Burns, 57, was convicted and sentenced Aug. 7 in Walton County, FL.
According to the Florida State Attorney's office, Burns performed lewd acts on the child.
The victim testified Burns sexually molested her. Burns was originally arrested in late 2011 on the charges.
Investigators in Florida learned Burns was convicted of a similar crime in the early 90s.
Burns was arrested on Aug. 17, 1990, on charges of enticing a child for indecent purposes, according to a DeKalb County court log.
According to Florida prosecution, Burns was convicted in Georgia and sentenced to 10 years, serving eight.
The victim in the Georgia case came to testify in Florida when Burns went to trial in 2011, according to court reports.
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