Georgia's State Supreme Court has ruled that Genarlow Wilson's 10-year sentence for having consensual oral sex when he was a teenager is "cruel and unusual punishment" and ordered him freed. SOURCE
Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears wrote in the majority opinion that the changes in the law "represent a seismic shift in the legislature's view of the gravity of oral sex between two willing teenage participants."
Sears wrote that the severe punishment makes "no measurable contribution to acceptable goals of punishment" and that Wilson's crime did not rise to the "level of adults who prey on children." SOURCE
How long do y'all think it will take BET to invite him to walk the red carpet, hand out an award and thank his fans?
Word of advice to Mr. Wilson. ... PLEASE for the love of GOD DO- NOT put up a MYSPACE PAGE
SANDRA ROSE has weighed in:
While I agree that the antiquated state law was written in language that shouldn't include teens having consensual sex, I had little sympathy for Wilson's case. What his supporters don't tell you is that Wilson was offered the same plea deal as the other boys at the party who also had consensual sex with the underage teen. His co-defendants took the deal but Wilson refused - preferring to take on the mostly white and very racist Georgia judicial system.DITTO!
While he languished in jail - for making more than one poor decision - his co-defendants did their little time and were released. The thing to remember is that a law was broken whether it's a fair law or not. Wilson's attorney should have explained that the law won't change overnight and she should have urged him to accept the plea deal. Sometimes people make bad decisions on their own and they have to suffer the consequences.
What say you?
