ESPN - Outrageous Justice - Genarlow Wilson
Genarlow Wilson, a honor student and promising football star, had consensual sex with a fellow teenager. However, he was 17, and she was 15. According to Georgia law, this constitutes aggravated molestation which carried a mandatory 10-year prison sentence.
He was found not guilty on rape, but was found guilty on the molestation charge. Two other charges were dropped. The jury did not realised about the 10-year sentence until after the guilty verdict was made.
Because of his case, the law was changed by the legislature, but was not applied retroactively.
To add more salt to the wound, a white female high school teacher was found guilty of having a sexual relationship with a student -- a true act of child molestation. She received 90 days in prison. Wilson received 3,650 days.
Comments
Posted by: Carlos Kasis
Posted on: January 27, 2007 12:45 PM
I am an Argentine teacher, in constant contact with colleagues and students all over Latin America. As an admirer of the US, I have frequent arguments defending America as the best country in the world, all considering. Frankly, if Mr. Genarlow Wilson is not released, I will have to keep my mouth shut in the future when my contacts start criticizing the US. I hope the Governor or some higher court reverse this ridiculous conviction that so damages the prestige of the US.
Posted by: GMBayles
Posted on: January 27, 2007 09:47 PM
The US constitution provided two ways for this not to happen:
1) The constitution clearly gives jurors the right to say "the law is stupid" or "the law does not apply". That is the publics final say in protecting itself from unjust laws.
2) The Governor could pardon Genarlow.
Posted by: T.Rodriguez
Posted on: February 15, 2007 08:15 PM
It's outragious what they're doing to this boy!
He's suffered enough. Please set him FREE....
and let him pursue the bright future that awaits him before it's too late. GOD BLESS AMERICA and our YOUTH.