Atlanta Police Searching for Sexual Battery Suspect

According to reports out of Atlanta, police are searching for a suspect who has been accused of groping and robbing a woman on the trail running through Freedom Park.

He allegedly put his hands up her skirt and up her shirt. She attempted to fight back but the suspect then grabbed her iPhone and ran down the path out of sight.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will cover the most likely charge stemming from the criminal interaction which is sexual battery in the state of Georgia.

Sexual Battery in Georgia

Sexual battery in Georgia is defined by the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. §16-6-22 as:

A person commits the offense of sexual battery when he or she intentionally makes physical contact with the intimate parts of the body of another person without the consent of that person.

By law, intimate body parts include the primary genital area, anus, groin, inner thighs, or buttocks of a male or female and the breasts of a female.

A person convicted of the offense of sexual battery shall be punished as for a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. This means that if convicted of sexual battery, a person is facing up to 12 months in jail and fines up to $5,000.

Practice Note

I try tot mention in every news story I cover that an accusation is not the same as a conviction. Just because someone has been accused of committing a criminal offense does not mean that he or she is guilty of committing that particular crime.

If you or a loved one has been arrested in the state of Georgia, contact our offices now. We can help you with your case today.