SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. -- A Sandy Springs doctor accused of child molestation accepted a plea deal Monday morning in Fulton County court.
Kelly Thrasher pleaded guilty to child molestation and aggravated sexual battery. A judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison and life on probation.
Thrasher, 41, used a legal maneuver to plead guilty because it is in his best interest, not because he is, in fact, guilty.
Investigators said Thrasher molested his daughter's best friend during a slumber party at his home in November 2012. He was also accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 30's, but that charge was dropped as part of his plea deal.
"For those who have been hurt, I'm truly sorry," Thrasher said in court. "It was never my intent to hurt anyone."
The victim was 7 years old at the time of the incident. Her parents agreed to the plea deal because it meant their daughter would not have to testify against Thrasher.
"Because of Kelly, my daughter learned about bad guys," the victim's mother told the court.
"He has no remorse," the girl's father said of Thrasher.
A prosecutor and a police detective read victim impact statements to the court.
In May, Thrasher skipped a scheduled meeting with detectives and tried to flee the country, but was arrested in Miami, Fla. He pleaded guilty Monday to charges of fraud and forgery for obtaining a fake passport while out on bond.
Thrasher could also face additional charges in DeKalb County related to child exploitation images found on his personal computer.
