In my entry titled “A True Travesty” on March 29, 2007, I related the case of Genarlow Wilson, a 17 year old high school senior serving a 10 year prison sentence for consensual sex with his 15 year old girlfriend and classmate. Now 21, Mr. Wison has been in prison for the past 28 months. However, there has been some recent good news … sort of.
A judge has voided his sentence, but it is not yet time to celebrate. He remains in jail pending an appeal by the Georgia State Attorney General.
Attorney General Thurbert Baker argues that the 10 year sentence is valid, that the judge has no authority to reduce or modify a sentence imposed by trail court, and that there is a plea deal on the table that would reduce the sentence to 5 years and remove Mr. Wilson from the sex offender roles.
The judge who threw out Mr. Wilson's ten-year sentence amended the charges to misdemeanor aggravated child molestation with a 12-month term, plus credit for time served, and no registration as a sex offender. Even this charge and sentence sounds harsh for consensual sex between a 17 year old and a 15 year old, but at least it would get Mr. Wilson out of prison and off of the sex offender registries. All that stands between Mr. Wilson and freedom at this point is the Georgia State Attorney General.
NOTE: Tomorrow I am out of town attending a service learning training, so there will be no Thursday blog entry. I’ll be back online on Friday!
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