JUST IN: Appeal blocks release in teen sex case

[ariesgem]

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."

Wilson has drawn support from throughout the country, including the editorial board of the New York Times and former President Jimmy Carter.

When he was 17 years old, he had a consensual sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl, which was consensually videotaped.

Georgia law at the time made such an action a felony punishable by 10 years in prison and listing on the sex offender registry.

The state legislature later changed the law, partly in response to Wilson's case. But the change was not made retroactive, leaving Wilson in jail. He has already served more than two years.

Superior Court Judge Thomas H. Wilson of Monroe County, Georgia, voided the sentence Monday, agreeing with Bernstein that the punishment was cruel and unusual, and therefore unconstitutional, Bernstein said.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/11/teen.sex.case/index.html

[xultar]

1. Racist fucks. that is all they are. RACIST FUCKS.

[Dhalgren]

6. You are right. This is nothing but pure racism...

[Catherine Vincent]

2. This is ridiculous!

What the hell is wrong with those prosecutors?

[BOSSHOG]

3. He's spent two years in jail for a blow job and the prosecutor wants to keep him there?

Thank God me and my younger girlfriend didn't have a videocamera back in high school in the early 70s.

[ourbluenation]

4. WTH is the prosecutor's deal? LET IT GO and Let this kid go.

jeezus.

[kestrel91316]

12. No doubt a REPUKE and religious nutjob.....

[Bonobo]

5. LINK: Is this the asshat Attorney General behind it?

http://www.state.ga.us/ago/

[xultar]

7. Who ever it is...they are a racist fuck.

[Bonobo]

11. PHONE NUMBERS FOR GA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE!

Key Contacts

Thurbert E. Baker
Attorney General
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Jeff L. Milsteen
Chief Deputy Attorney General
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Isaac Byrd
Deputy Attorney General
Regulated Industries and Professions Division
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Dennis R. Dunn
Deputy Attorney General
Government Services & Employment Division
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Ray O. Lerer
Deputy Attorney General
Commercial Transactions and Litigation Division
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Kathleen M. Pacious
Deputy Attorney General
General Litigation Division
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Mary Beth Westmoreland
Deputy Attorney General
Criminal Justice Division
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Daryl A. Robinson
Counsel to the Attorney General
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Russ Willard
Director of Communications
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

David S. McLaughlin
Special Prosecutions
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Ann Bentley
Director of Operations
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

State Law Library
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Wanda Rachael
Director of Human Resources
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Remember: Don't call these guys. They are so busy and a barrage of phone calls might shut them down!

[xultar]

17. I'm callin people .. try the second number. I got through. 404-656-3347

[catgirl]

28. I got through to the AG with this #

The receptionist forwarded me directly to his voice mail. I was so
angry I could barely talk. This guy needs to go! What the hell is his point?
ARRRRRRGGGGGGGG!

[xultar]

34. I printed the list. I'm going to call during rush hour. I leave @ 4p and I have 90 mins with

nothing to do. So today I'm gonna play dial a fucker in the GA AG's office.

[CottonBear]

13. You'll be disappointed to know that Baker is a Democrat.

Thurbert Baker and Mike Thurmond (commissioner of labor) are the only two state government officials who are Democrats. All of the others have been replaced by Republics. These two guys have been in office since before the Republic take over of state power (governor and control of state assembly.)

[Bonobo]

15. I am not dissappointed. It makes no difference.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. dixiecrats, eh?

[CottonBear]

22. Thurbert Baker is no Dixecrat. There has never been a black Dixiecrat.

He is probably socially conservative and also is probably trying ot retain his position as one of only two Democrats elected to state positions since the Republic take over of Georgia.

(Not that that's an excuse for him ruling ot keep this young man in prison. I don't think the boys should have videotaped the girl but I also don;t think that a 17 and a 15 year old having oral sex should result in a 10 year prison term.)

[xultar]

18. Like Zell and Jomentum...still a fucker.

[WiseButAngrySara]

26. He is also black so presumably not racist. ...n/t

[MonkeyFunk]

20. yes

that's the African-American, democratic Attorney-General.

Hi Bonobo! :hi:

[Bonobo]

24. I couldn't care less if he was a purple communist... He's an ass pimple.

You there Funky Monkey! I like your baby orang!

[MonkeyFunk]

25. Oh

I think he's entirely on the wrong side of this.

But an Attorney-general appealing the overturning of a sentence is pretty standard procedure, and needn't be rooted in racism.

AG's protect their prosecutors, and try to protect their convictions.

I'm just not ready to automatically assume that racism is the motivation behind this.

[Bonobo]

29. I don't care about the motives. It doesn't matter why it was done.

It is a huge miscarriage of justice. Especially since the "law" was thrown off the books.

[MonkeyFunk]

31. I agree entirely.

I'm merely disputing the automatic assumption that racism is the reason for his actions. I think that's a very serious charge, and absent some evidence of that, I think there are other, less malign reasons for his actions.

[xultar]

33. A ginormous puss filled stinkin ingrown hair ass pimple.

[mediaman007]

8. Its all about power...the white prosecutor has it and the inmate doesn't

[movonne]

9. We live in one sick country....

[aikoaiko]

10. That's a shame. The AG should not appeal this in the interest of justice

I'm not a supporter of what Wilson did in the first place, but 10 years was far too much.

I'm sure they are punishing him for fighting for a fairer sentence for his conviction.

[Rosemary2205]

14. The purpose of the appeal is the State stomping on Monroe county.

The purpose of the appeal, IMHO isn't about this particular case but about the Power of the State's attorney's office over that of a county court. They want to force this to the GA supremes to protect State power over local power. Wilson is, unfortunately, caught in the middle.


Edit to add the initial choice to prosecute was clearly racist, the conviction and sentencing were clearly racist, but I don't see this appeal as having anything to do with racism. I truly believe if this was a white kid caught in the system he'd be trampled as fodder for powermongering too. I have watched Baker for years. I don't think he's a racist. He's a powermonger, but not a racist.

[aikoaiko]

19. Good observation.....

I once heard an AG refer to suspects and convicts as 'chum'. Just bait for the sharks.

[CottonBear]

23. You are correct. n/t

[Karenina]

38. Powermonger and racist

are not mutually exclusive. ;-)

[catgirl]

21. Here's the Attorney General's info.

link to his office (check out his bio): http://www.ganet.org/ago/

phone #: [phone]

This may not be a racial issue. The AT has a hard stance on domestic abuse, sex crimes...
He seems to be blind, however, in the fact that this young guy's life is being ruined.
Or he simply only cares about his own career and getting votes.

[xultar]

30. He knows that young man should not be in jail if it has been a white boy 17 with her

we wouldn't be discussing this right now.

[Bonobo]

27. Can we get this on the GREATEST threads list. Recs please!

[Warren DeMontague]

32. Ah, the Sex Cops.

These Teens must be taught a lesson! Obviously, any 17 year old who has consensual sex with a 15 year old is a dangerous criminal. (That would be like 1/3 of my High School Graduating class, but, whatever)

[WyLoochka]

35. I'll bet the AG had sex before he was 18

with someone under 18. This is so sick. The behavior - though not wise - is extrememly common and well within the range of normal. It is not criminal.

[SoCalDem]

36. Kids who attend school in the same buildings WILL be attracted to each other

and literal age is not a factor.. School districts who put 13-14-15 yr olds in the same buildings/campuses as 16-17-18 yr olds are very much to blame.

There was a REASON why the old system had real junior highs..totally separate from high school


K-6 (up to 11/12 yr olds..back then pre-pubescent mostly)

7-8-9...(12,14,15 yr olds.) all on the same developmental level

and then

10-11-12 (16-17-18) all "legal" to date each other.

[High Plains]

37. Kick...so more people call out these Georgia assholes.

[Oilwellian]

39. I'm curious...

was the girl who gave the BJ, white?

[ariesgem]

40. She's black.

[question everything]

41. This prosecutor shows shades of Nyfong

of the Duke Lacrosse fame..

Wonder whether s/he, too, is up for re election.