What happen to the kid in jail for receiving oral sex?

[Bo]

Is he getting out? I have not heard anything in Weeks.

[3waygeek]

1. Last night HDNet World Report

devoted 45 of their 60 minute program to the Wilson case. You can download the video from HDNet.

[Truthseeker013]

2. What happen to the kid in jail for receiving oral sex?

A state legislator just introduced a bill to change the statute he was convicted under, make the crime relevant only if the parties are more than four years apart in age. As for the kid himself, he's been let out for good behavior, if memory serves. I'll need to scour the local database to be certain, and I'm forgetful, so stick a note in my inbox once you read this to remind me.

[Truthseeker013]

3. What happen to the kid in jail for receiving oral sex?

A self-correction, and apologies for posting erroneous intel. The poor kid's still roasting in jail. This week, the Republicrap clown who stuck him there effectively by co-sponsoring the law that put him there came out to say, in effect, "I never meant for something like this to happen." (It's not an exact quote because, as I do with all pollies, I was trying to see if his lips were actually moving, or if the sounds were coming from the vicinity of his Sansabelt slacks.) Several people, most noticeably Laurie Higginbotham, a Texas attorney, who has recently come to his defense. Also, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has vowed to boycott Jawja until the young man, Genarlow Wilson, is freed. Even Neal Boortz, the New Mouth of the South, has put in his two cents' worth, denouncing the State Senate's President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) for opposing legislation that could lead to Wilson's release. There's an online petition you can sign to express your displeasure at his treatment, at http:// www. wilsonappeal.com /petition. php (remove the spaces, because I'm not sure if posting URLs is kosher hereabouts). Again, apologies for the misinformation.

[YellingTuna]

4. This is just...well...special

This is really special. WOW! I go to high School, its not uncommon for different grade levels to date each other. To sentence them to 10yrs in jail for it??????

[Truthseeker013]

5. This is just...well...special

Welcome ta Jawja, y'all! Set a spell, and leave yuh brain at thuh 'Bama boduh...

[TheBobo]

6. here's a facebook group for it

this is sick. stop policing our sexuality.

at any rate, facebook group for wilson
http://hs.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2230771019

[aikoaiko]

7. The context of this "crime" had a lot to do with it.

The details of the case made it easy to not be sympathetic to Wilson. I can't recall all the details but they three boys taped the sexual encounter and there were two girls. One was underage and one was drinking. I've not seen the tape but it was not flattering to the defendants.

Plus, he was given the same opportunity to only have a 5 year sentence, which is comrades took, but Wilson thought he could be acquitted.

Hopefully this law will change and be more in accord with the statutory rape law.

[DemBones DemBones]

16. I'd never heard that before. Three guys, two girls,

sex acts captured on videotape, maybe he shoulda taken the deal. :shrug:

I'd always heard it was just about him being 17 and his girlfriend being 15, which seemed silly, even though the girl was below the age of consent.

I can see why the courts are a little more upset about group sex -- if that's what it was -- voyeurism and videotaping, apparently involving at least one girl below the age of consent and three guys above the age of consent.

It would lead most people to think the 15 year-old girl was coerced by the older guys and girl.

I think the idea that teens can only rationally consent to sex when they've reached the magic age of consent is foolish. But, OTOH, it does allow the state to prosecute people who take advantage of teens.

[aikoaiko]

17. Apparently the videotape was viewed by some key legislatures when they revamped law

was written and that motivated them to explicitly make the new law non-retroactive.

The tape has been released to the public now (to those who filed for the release) and, apparently, it does not paint a sympathetic picture of Wilson or his friends.

There are a lot of proponents of Wilson's release who are minimizing and distorting the facts of the case, but I think its better to acknowledge them head on and STILL argue that is correct to release him with time served and no registration.

[cullen2382]

8. he's still in jail

The state refuses to rehear his case and refuses to grandfather him in to the new romeo and juliet law. The reason he refused to plead is because he was a good student and athlete and had a bright future ahead of him. I can't believe how people are blaming him for doing something consensual. Yes they were all drunk, but that is something teenagers tend to do. They have to learn by their mistakes. He does not deserve 10 years in prison and being tagged as a sex offender. They were only 2 years apart. By the way, an email was released where our oh so wonderful senator Johnny Isaakson really tore into him saying among other things, that punk got what he deserved.

[Rosemary2205]

9. Black guy, white girl -- what else do you expect in Jawja?

A lawyer told me Purdue has the ability to pardon but won't.

[aikoaiko]

10. I don't this lawyer friend of yours understands GA law.

Pardons are the responsibility of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles -- not the Governor.

http://pap.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,683715_6170_11789008,00.html

"In 1943, public concern about the handling of pardons and paroles led the Georgia General Assembly to enact legislation, which created the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an independent agency to administer executive clemency."

[aikoaiko]

11. Good news for those who care....

It looks like he'll get his day in court to get a reduced sentence. Hopefully he'll get out soon and start making smarter choices in life.

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- A judge said Wednesday he'll rule by next week on the appeal of a man sentenced to 10 years in prison for having consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17.

A lawyer for Genarlow Wilson, now 21, asked the appellate judge to throw out the aggravated child molestation sentence on the grounds it is grossly disproportionate to the crime.

Defense attorney B.J. Bernstein noted that state lawmakers passed a law to close the loophole that led to Wilson's sentence. (Watch Wilson talk about how everything was going right and then went wrong) Video

But prosecutor Paula Smith argued that the new law cannot be applied retroactively.

"The General Assembly did not make it retroactive," Smith said. "They had the prerogative to do so; they did not." She argued that Wilson should have to serve out the widely criticized mandatory term.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/06/teen.sex.case.ap/index.html

http://tinyurl.com/yuoeol

[aikoaiko]

12. wilson got a just reduced sentence, but apparently criticizing his behavior is "out of bounds"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1088247

[aikoaiko]

13. unbelievably, the GA AG is appealing and blocked Wilson's release

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/11/teen.sex.case/index.html

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- A judge on Monday threw out the 10-year sentence against a 21-year-old for a consensual sex encounter he had as a teenager. But the state attorney general quickly filed a notice of appeal, keeping Genarlow Wilson in prison for the time being.

The prosecutor's move brought an abrupt halt to the jubilation Wilson's mother, Juannessa Bennett, and his attorney, B.J. Bernstein, were feeling, and the plans they were making for Bennett to be reunited with her son.

"It is extremely, extremely disturbing that the attorney general would take this action now," Bernstein said, adding that she did not know what message "he's trying to send" or "who he's representing.

....

[aikoaiko]

14. Latest development (7/12): DA released video of Genarlow Wilson that helped convict him.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/07/12/wilson_0713.html

Advocates want DA prosecuted for releasing Wilson video
By CARLOS CAMPOS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/12/07

Advocates of a Douglas County man serving a 10-year prison sentence for having consensual teenage sex are pushing for criminal charges against the district attorney who prosecuted the case.

Two state senators, a state representative, a civil rights veteran, and the pastor of historic Ebenezer Baptist Church all criticized Douglas District Attorney David McDade at a Thursday afternoon press conference for what they characterized as his "overzealous" prosecution and subsequent mishandling of the Genarlow Wilson case.

[aikoaiko]

15. Update 7/20: GA Supreme Court hearing on Genarlow Wilson sentence

At least it happened. It may well come down to the classic issue of doing the right thing for the individual (reducing the sentence of Genarlow Wilson) versus following the letter of the law.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/07/20/wilson_0721_web.html

Ga. top court finishes hearing Wilson's appeal
By MIKE MORRIS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/20/07

The Georgia Supreme Court heard arguments Friday morning on a pair of appeals in the closely watched Genarlow Wilson case.

The court was originally scheduled to hear the case in October, but justices decided earlier this month to speed up the process in the case of Wilson, the Douglas County man imprisoned for receiving oral sex from a 15-year-old girl when he was 17.

The Supreme Court is considering two appeals in the case.Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker is appealing a Monroe County Superior Court judge's decision to reduce Wilson's felony conviction to a misdemeanor and free him from prison. Baker said the judge overstepped his authority when he granted Wilson's motion last month. Wilson's attorney is arguing his 10-year prison sentence is cruel and unusual punishment.

...

[aikoaiko]

18. 10/27 UPDATE: Genarlow Wilson free.

I know most people have seen this elsewhere, but I thought it fitting that it be posted in this thread.

Wilson rejoices: 4-3 DECISION FREES GENARLOW

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/10/27/wilson1027.html?cxntlid=inform

Forsyth —- Genarlow Wilson walked out of prison and into the arms of his mother as a free man Friday, after serving 32 months and 12 days behind bars for having oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17.

Two prison guards escorted him from the Burruss Correctional Training Center here. Wilson shook their hands, broke into a wide grin, hugged his mother, Juannessa Bennett, and then picked up his little sister, Jiaya, 9, and held her.

Just hours earlier, the Georgia Supreme Court had ordered his release, calling his 10-year prison sentence "cruel and unusual punishment" under the state and federal constitutions.

With his mother and attorney by his side, Wilson told reporters he harbored no bitterness and still believes in the justice system —- especially now that he's been freed.

"I was waiting to see it for myself before I took anyone else's word for it," Wilson, now 21, said of his release. "It felt unreal just to sign the papers to actually let me know I was leaving.

Genarlow Wilson is free ... but others are not

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2007/10/26/wilsoned_1028.html

Several months ago, Genarlow Wilson was not optimistic Georgia courts would ever rule in his behalf. Interviewed in June at the Burruss Correctional Training Center in Forsyth, he pondered his chances.

"I'm really praying for the best, but at the same time I'm expecting the worst," he said.
Rich Addicks/AJC

On Friday, Wilson got the best. He won his freedom after the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that "... Wilson's sentence is grossly disproportionate to his crime and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under both the Georgia and the United States Constitutions." Later that day, Wilson left the prison, flanked by his attorney, B.J. Bernstein, and his mother, Juannessa Bennett.

Wilson, who served nearly three years of a 10-year sentence, may be the most extreme example of a teenager entrapped by the state's regressive sex laws. The conduct that led to his felony conviction took place at a sordid 2003 New Year's Eve Party, when he was 17 and the girl just two years his junior.