Ga. ‘witch doctor’ sentenced to life in prison for sex crimes

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A Gwinnett County man who calls himself a “witch doctor” was convicted of several sex crimes, according to Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson.

Hasaan Shalgheen, 45, of Duluth, was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison after being found guilty of rape, false imprisonment, theft by deception, sexual battery and battery. Austin-Gatson said Shalgheen is accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman he charged $1,500 to perform an evil spirit healing ritual.

According to a news release sent out by Austin-Gatson, the victim met Shalgheen at his apartment on Feb. 5, 2023, after she agreed to pay him for the “cleansing ritual.” She paid a $200 deposit and pledged to send installment payments over a 30-day period. When the woman entered his home, she saw a handgun sitting out on a table.

The report states that Shalgheen told her the ritual would take three hours and gave her a white nightgown to wear. The woman reluctantly agreed to change into the nightgown, and then Shalgheen forcibly had sex with her, according to the report.

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The woman told Shalgheen to let her go, but he refused. He eventually allowed her to get dressed and then told her to send him an additional $300, which she did, the report said.

The district attorney said the woman called Duluth police, who obtained a search warrant for Shalgheen’s apartment and found evidence in the apartment linking him to the incident. He was then arrested.

After the case was reported in the media, Austin-Gatson says four women ed Duluth police and described similar incidents with Shalgheen. Two of the victims testified during the trial, which began Feb. 26 and ended Tuesday morning. It took the jury nearly a day and a half to deliberate, Austin-Gatson said.