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Genarlow Wilson's Appeal Case — Jun 6th 2007
By Dakota Smith
One news story being closely watched this week is the appeal case of Georgia resident Genarlow Wilson. Now 21, Wilson was sentenced to 10 years in jail for having consensual oral sex during a New Year's Eve party. At the time, Wilson was 17 and his female partner was 15. Under the Georgia law that convicted Wilson, which has been since modified, oral sex between teens constitutes aggravated child molestation.
Wilson has already spent 27 months in jail, and today his lawyer pleaded for his release. According to an AP dispatch, the attorney "argued that the sentence was 'grossly disproportionate' to the crime. 'We are asking this court to void this sentence. We are asking this court to release Genarlow Wilson,' appeals lawyer B.J. Bernstein said."
To date, media coverage has largely been on Wilson's side. Dateline ABC ran a very pro-Wilson piece entitled "Outrage After Teen Gets 10 Years for Oral Sex With Girl," while numerous newspaper editorials and blog op-eds have called for his freedom.
One of the best pieces of journalism about the story is an Atlanta magazine article that featured interviews with many of the key players in Wilson's original trial. In the story, jury foreman Marie Manigault expresses regrets for sending Wilson to jail.
""It all boils down to the fact that there's the letter of the law and there's the spirit of the law," says Manigault, who claims that she still struggles to make peace with her role in the case, and that she could not sleep for months after the verdict. "Under the letter of the law these young men were guilty, but under the spirit of the law they were not guilty," she says. "Because we were ignorant we sent this child to jail.""
Even the sponsor of the bill even is speaking out against the former law. ''The law was designed to protect kids against really, really bad people doing very bad things,'' said the sponsor, former state Rep. Matt Towery, a Republican, told another writer from the Associated Press.''It was never intended to put kids in jail for oral sex.''
That sentiment seems common throughout the blogosphere. A quick search reveals plenty of outrage about the case (official site for Wilson can be found here) including this comment on the Washington Post blog: "In my own personal crusade I have stopped using all Ga. Businesses, I switched from Coke to Pepsi, from UPS to FedEx from CNN to NPR Home Depot to Lowe's," writes one user.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
romeovision — 5:12PM on Jun 11th 2007
1. This is so ridiculous that there was an appeal when there was a ruling today that he should be released. It is definitely a misuse of power by the Attorney General in Georgia. They are playing with this young man's life after he has more than served his time in jail.
Eleon Ramierz — 8:44PM on Jun 11th 2007
2. As an Attorney I am simply outraged at the Attorney General. I have no idea what message he is sending or whose interest he is representing. Obviously the people have spoken, no one wants this promising young man behind bars. No one except the Attorney General and the District Attorney. I honestly believe that these two characters are determined not to be proven wrong. I SAY SHAME ON THEM BOTH!!!!
Dee — 10:43PM on Jun 12th 2007
3. Plain and simple - let that young man out of jail. The law under which is serving a sentence is NOT meant for him . His case needs to be overturned. Teenagers have sex. They were both underaged. Conviction of this young man was a terribly wrong and somone needs to step up and get him out.
Dee — 10:43PM on Jun 12th 2007
4. Get this young man out of jail before his life is totally ruined. An incredible injustice. Anyone, policitins, attorney's...........someone help him.
Dee — 10:45PM on Jun 12th 2007
5. Get him out of jail. Does not belong there. Help him!!
Chuck Gallagher — 10:36PM on Jul 22nd 2007
6. The outcome of this case will surely be decided within a week or two at the latest. But, beyond the minimum sentence issue, at hand, a larger question exists: what will Genarlow Wilson do to benefit others from his experience? Certainly, his sentence and incarceration has caused a law to be changed. One could say that is good. But beyond that, Genarlow is an example of a simple, yet profound, principle: Every choice has a consequence.
As former inmate from Federal prison, today I share with business executives and young people that simple message: Every choice has a consequence. http://www.chuckgallagher.com And, while I am extraordinarily sympathetic to Mr. Wilson's plight, his example has helped other young people evaluate the power of their seemingly simple choices. As the founder of the Choices Foundation, perhaps Genarlow would consider stepping up and helping others understand the power of choice.
latarsha — 2:53AM on Jul 24th 2007
7. what about the people in prison and on probation