Joel Antonio Duran jailed for life after abusing girlfriend’s 6-year-old daughter

Spartanburg man convicted of repeatedly assaulting girlfriend’s young daughter in 2021.

A Spartanburg man has been handed a life sentence without parole after being convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s young daughter when she was just six years old.

According to the Seventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Joel Antonio Duran, 35, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. On 18 July, a judge imposed the maximum penalty: life in prison with no possibility of release.

The disturbing case first came to light in 2021, when law enforcement received reports of possible sexual abuse inside a Spartanburg County home. At the time, Duran was dating the victim’s mother and living in the same household as the child and her siblings.

Investigators referred the children to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties for forensic interviews. During the sessions, the young victim disclosed that Duran had subjected her to repeated acts of both vaginal and anal intercourse. She told interviewers the abuse occurred when she was six and seven years old.

The allegations led to a full criminal investigation and eventually to Duran’s arrest. Prosecutors argued that the assaults were deliberate, ongoing, and devastating to the child’s wellbeing.

Assistant Solicitor Wendy Hallford, who prosecuted the case alongside Assistant Solicitor Megan Helton, said the verdict reflected the courage of the victim in coming forward. “This child displayed incredible bravery in recounting what had been done to her,” Hallford said. “With this sentence, justice has been served, and she will never have to face her abuser again.”

The jury found Duran guilty on both charges following the trial, leaving the judge with little choice but to impose the harshest available sentence. Under South Carolina law, first-degree criminal sexual conduct of a minor carries mandatory severe penalties, designed to protect children from predatory offenders.

In addition to his life sentence, Duran will be permanently listed on the South Carolina sex offender registry, ensuring he remains publicly identified as a convicted sexual predator.

The Solicitor’s Office emphasised the important role of child advocacy centres in the investigation, noting that these facilities provide a safe, controlled environment for children to disclose traumatic experiences while minimising additional harm.

Duran’s sentencing also shed light on his previous brushes with the law. Records revealed a criminal history that included convictions in Florida for domestic battery and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, along with a DUI conviction in Spartanburg. However, none of those prior offences matched the gravity of the crimes for which he has now been sentenced.

Authorities say the outcome sends a powerful message about accountability. “These crimes will not go unpunished,” prosecutors stated, underscoring that life sentences in such cases are meant to protect the community and deliver justice for victims.

For the child at the centre of the case, the sentence marks an end to a harrowing ordeal. For Duran, it means spending the rest of his life behind bars, stripped of the possibility of parole and branded a sex offender for life.

The Solicitor’s Office said the case also stands as a reminder of the importance of vigilance when it comes to protecting vulnerable children and praised the coordinated work of investigators, prosecutors, and child advocates in securing the conviction