Former Soldier Receives Concurrent Life Sentences for Heinous Crimes Against Children
A former Army soldier has been sentenced to life in prison for the sexual abuse of two children on the Fort Stewart Military Reservation in Georgia. The conviction and sentencing of Austin Michael Burak, 32, of Oak Harbor, Washington, came after a jury trial in the Southern District of Georgia.
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker sentenced Burak to consecutive life sentences for the two young victims. The charges included aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact of a child.
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According to courtroom testimony, Burak sexually abused and raped two minor boys in August of 2017 while they were asleep in their own beds. During the trial, three additional witnesses came forward, recounting similar experiences of being sexually assaulted by Burak when they were minors. One of the witnesses described years of abuse at Burak’s hands.
“There are appropriately severe consequences for sexually assaulting children,” said U.S. Attorney Meg E. Heap. “We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who prey on the most innocent among us. The community is safer now that a sexual predator will spend the rest of his life imprisoned.”
The case was a collaborative effort between the Army Criminal Investigation Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
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“This sentence ensures that Austin Burak will never again have the opportunity to harm another child,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It demonstrates the dedication of our agents and law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to bring justice to survivors of these heinous crimes.”
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