Hearing set for Genarlow Wilson; lawyers argue GA's "Romeo and Juliet" law should apply

A hearing in Monroe County Superior Court on Wednesday, could decide whether or not Genarlow Wilson will have to serve eight more years in prison. In 2004, a Monroe County jury unanimously convicted Wilson of aggravated child molestation.

Genarlow Wilson was 17 years old at the time of his arrest. He was convicted after a videotape showed him engaging in consensual oral sex with a 15 year old girl during a New Year's Eve Party in 2003. Wilson has served two years of a mandatory 10 year sentence.

At the hearing, Wilson's lawyers will ask the state attorney general to release their client from prison. They say a law adopted since his conviction, makes Wilson's crime a misdemeanor and should be applied retroactively.

Earlier this year, State Senator Emannuel Jones introduction legislation to amend Georgia's so-called Romeo and Juliet law. The law makes consensual sex between minors, a misdemeanor.
Jones' proposal, however, has met with stiff opposition. He believes it's because the defendant is African-American. "When I ask myself why the scales of justice came down so hard on this kid, I have to believe there's an element of race."

If the petition is denied, Gernarlow Wilson will be 27 years old before he is released from prison. Current law requires that he register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.