Update: Genarlow Wilson ordered freed

Last year I wrote about the case of Genarlow Wilson, a boy who at 17 years of age was sentenced to ten years in prison for having consensual oral sex with a younger girl. The 15-year-old girl initiated a sex act with Genarlow, who was then convicted of “aggravated child molestation.” Now Genarlow acted inappropriately, but his ten year sentence and the fact that he would be branded as a child molester for the rest of his life seemed completely disproportionate. Had Genarlow had full sex with the girl it would have been considered a lesser offense!

After Wilson’s conviction and sentence, the Georgia legislature changed the statute realizing it was unfair, and consensual oral sex between teens is now a misdemeanor rather than a felony. However Genarlow was convicted under the old law, and faced the prospect of being in prison for something that was no longer considered a serious crime.

The update is that on Monday a judge ordered Wilson’s release. There are still hurdles because the Attorney General for the state of Georgia is insisting on an appeal.

For more sex-crime absurdity, check out this story about an eight-year-old boy in Utah who was dared by his 14-year-old babysitter to touch her breasts. The outcome? The boy gets charged with lewd conduct! The charges were later dropped, but it’s unconscionable that a child as young as that be held responsible for a sex crime under such circumstances.

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