30 Year Sentence for Georgia Man Found Guilty of Producing Child Pornography

According to reports, a man from Georgia and a woman from South Carolina have been convicted of production of child pornography.

Both were sentenced to 30 years of prison each after being found guilty of attempting tot sexually exploit a young girl. As part of each of their sentences, they are both required to register on the Georgia Sex Offender Registry.

As a Georgia Sex Crimes Lawyer, I will outline what offenses lead to such a registration as well as the legal process for registration.

Sex Offender Registry in Georgia

Under O.C.G.A. §42-1-12, a sexual offender is any individual who has been committed of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor or any dangerous sexual offender. These offenses include but are not limited to: rape, aggravated child molestation, incest, aggravated sodomy, enticing a child for indecent purposes, etc..

The list of those who must register as sex offenders includes:

• People convicted of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor after July 1, 1996
• People convicted of a dangerous sexual offense after July 1, 1996
• People convicted of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor and may be released from prison or placed on parole, supervised release, or probation on or after July 1, 1996
• Persons who have previously been convicted of a sexually violent offense or dangerous sexual offense and may be released from prison or placed on parole, supervised release, or probation on or after July 1, 1996
• Persons who are a resident of Georgia who intends to reside in this state and who is convicted under the laws of another state or the United States, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or in a tribal court of a sexually violent offense, a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor on or after July 1, 1999, or a dangerous sexual offense on or after July 1, 1996.
• A nonresident who changes residence from another state or territory of the United States or any other place to Georgia who is required to register as a sexual offender under federal law, military law, tribal law, or the laws of another state or territory, or who has been convicted in this state of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor or any dangerous sexual offense.

To register, the sexual offender must register in person with the sheriff of the county in which they reside within 72 hours from being released from prison. If the offender is homeless, they must register with the sheriff of the county in which they sleep. Furthermore, they must renew their registration information with the sheriff in person with 72 hours of their birthday each year. They will also be photographed and fingerprinted.

If a sex offender moves to another state, they are required to register their new address with the sheriff of the county with whom they last registered. They must also register with a designated law enforcement agency in the new state within 72 hours after establishing residence in the new state.

Practice Note

Failure to register as a Sex Offender in Georgia is a serious offense in the state of Georgia. This is why if you or a loved one has been accused of committing a sex offense, you should contact our offices now.