Georgia judge says 'vile' child molester has 'special place in hell'

A Bibb County Superior Court judge said there is "a special place in hell" for people like 29-year-old Amanda Arellano, who recently pleaded guilty to helping her boyfriend rape and molest Arellano's two young daughters, ages 6 and 8 at the time of the abuse.

Arellano and her boyfriend, 30-year-old Daniel Kelly Copeland, were jailed in January 2012. The abuse, what prosecutors described as coercing the children “into their sexual behaviors as a couple," began in the second half of 2011.

Arellano pleaded guilty on Aug. 14, according to the Macon Telegraph, before her trial was set to begin this week.

Before sentencing Arellano, Bibb County Superior Court Judge Howard Simms did something he has never done before: curse.

“Ms. Arellano, I don’t know that I have ever said a curse word from this bench,” he said, “but you may be the vilest bitch that I have ever met.”

Copeland pleaded guilty in 2013 to rape and four counts of aggravated child molestation for his role in the abuse.

The Telegraph reports that Arellano was sentenced to 30 years in prison and lifetime probation as a sex offender. Copeland is serving 25 years in prison followed by a lifetime of probation.

This story was originally published August 18, 2014 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Georgia judge says 'vile' child molester has 'special place in hell'."