consensual sexual activity,-----underaged while drinking, etc.

[rodeodance]

I have to agree. Our laws need to be carefully looked at before this man is condemed for life (will have to register as a sex offender).

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/21/opinion/21thu4.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fEditorials&pagewanted=print

December 21, 2006
Editorial
Free Genarlow Wilson Now

Genarlow Wilson loves reading mystery novels and can’t wait for the next Harry Potter book. The 20-year-old former high school football player and honor student works in a library, the perfect job for a young bookworm. Unfortunately, that is where the good news ends and a genuine horror story of this country’s legal system begins.

The library in Georgia where Mr. Wilson works is in prison. He is two years into a sentence for engaging in consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl at a New Year’s Eve party when he was 17. He won’t be eligible for parole until he has served 10 years, essentially sacrificing his remaining youth to an obvious miscarriage of justice.

As Shaila Dewan reported in The Times this week, Mr. Wilson has been convicted of aggravated child molestation even though he and the girl were both minors at the time. Even if he could win an early release, Mr. Wilson could not go home to his family. He would have to register as a sex offender and would be prohibited from living with his 8-year-old sister. It is all the more disgraceful because the Georgia Supreme Court last week refused to hear his appeal.

The sexual act took place during a party involving sex, marijuana and alcohol, all captured on a graphic videotape. But that does not make Mr. Wilson a child molester. When high school students engage in consensual sexual activity, that is not the same as an adult molesting a teenager or a teenager molesting a child.
.........

[China_cat]

1. It's shit like this that makes me want to say

scrap the sex offenders registry. The REAL molesters just change their names or move to another state and fail to register but this guy and the one who got seen by a 6 year old while taking a piss behind a tree will be labeled for life simply because they are otherwise decent people who would abide by their restrictions.

Yes, we need to protect our children. But we also need to protect our children from some of our 'protections'.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I agree

This is ridiculous.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. One question

what is Mr. Wilson's race? Seeing that this took place in Georgia, I think it has a bearing on the matter.

My next question is: does Georgia automatically lock up men whose underage girlfriends get pregnant? Isn't that evidence of statutory rape?

[China_cat]

5. Georgia law allowed for intercourse

but not oral (Romeo and Juliet clause). It NOW allows for oral but that was passed after this guy was put away and they won't allow it to apply to him retroactively.

And yes, my first thought about that was that he was most likely black and she was probably white. (Because they don't really get upset about what 2 people of the same non-white race do to each other)

[Gman]

4. Must be good christian family values legislation

See what they've done to this country.

But in all fairness, a lot of Democrats have jumped on this bandwagon because, just like they did with the war, didn't want to be perceived as being OK with something the public was worked up into a frenzy to be against.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Red State

'nuff said

[Evergreen Emerald]

7. there is too little difference in age between the two

unless it was force, which in this case it appears it was based on the child's age.

In WA there must be 48 months difference in age between the two. It would not have been a crime in WA.

He can petition for the court to drop the registration after a time if he has no other criminal history.

I understand that he did not take the plea offer, which was three years, knowing they had a video-tape of the act. His lawyer better have advised him to take that offer.

We have decided however, in our society, that 15 years of age is too young to consent.

[Tyo]

8. Too bad the guy wasn't a middle-aged member of Congress

Probably could have just checked himself into rehab and called it good.