MARIETTA, GA -- The former chairman of the Cobb County Republican Party has received a life sentence after pleading guilty to molesting two young relatives, Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds announced Friday afternoon.
Joseph Russell Dendy, 72, must serve 30 years in prison for the crimes, which occurred from 2004 to 2011 at his home, church and the dressing room of a store, the DA's Office said. 
Dendy, who served two terms as head of Cobb's GOP Party from 2011 to 2015, was arrested last year at his West Cobb home. At the time, his attorney denied the charges, telling a local newspaper, "Mr. Dendy will plead not guilty to all charges and will commence his own independent investigation into the motivation and credibility of individuals now claiming acts which allegedly occurred over nine years ago and which were never reported to anyone.”
After the plea, one of the victims addressed the court, saying that he still has nightmares because of the abuse. He said that his decision to become a military police officer was influenced by his wanting to help others escape abuse. He told Dendy: “I’m stronger than you.”
Prosecutors Susan Treadaway and David Williamson were planning on calling other witnesses who said they had been sexually abused by Dendy over a period that span more than a half century.
“This resolution achieves justice and avoids a trial, which would have likely been another painful experience for these victims, who have already endured so much,” Treadaway said in a news release. “Hiding behind his public persona as a prominent community leader, this defendant was able to wear a path of destruction through his family for decades. That ends today.”
Dendy was supposed to go to trial next month, but during a hearing Friday he pleaded guilty to multiple crimes, including aggravated sexual battery, aggravated child molestation, four counts of child molestation, three counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes, and four counts of cruelty to children.
Cobb prosecutors cooperated with officials in South Carolina officials, where Dendy faces more charges. "Prosecutors there have agreed not to recommend a harsher sentence than what was done here in Cobb County," the news release said.
Under terms of his sentence, If Dendy gets out of prison, he must register as a sex-offender.  He was represented by Atlanta attorney Brian Steel.