Closer Look at the Law Behind Sexual Battery After Woman Reports Being Groped in Georgia Park

Izet Dedic turned himself in after seeing a sketch of himself on the news reporting an alleged groping of a woman in a park in Fulton County. The woman reported that she had seen the man a few times at the park during different situations. She said that this time was different though because the two usually just exchanged some brief words.

This time, however, Dedic allegedly approached her and started asking some inappropriate questions. When she tried to leave he grabbed her and proceeded to grope her. 

Dedic is currently in Fulton County jail awaiting his hearing on charges of sexual battery.

What is sexual battery in Georgia?

Sexual battery in Georgiais defined by the Georgia Code 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. O.C.G.A. §16-6-22.1.

Georgia law describes “intimate parts of the body” as the primary genital area including the anus, groin, inner thighs, or buttocks.

Sexual battery is classified as a high and aggravated misdemeanor in Georgia. This means that if the accused person is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted of sexual battery, they are facing up 12 months in jail and $5,000 in fines. 

The penalty heightens though if the victim is under the age of 16 years old. At this point, the offense will be classified as a felony and the penalty can include up to five years in prison.

Practice Note

An accusation of any sex crime in Georgia is seriously stigmatized. This can lead to most people automatically assuming the guilt of the accused person. As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, it's important for me to point out that the basis of our criminal justice system is that everyone has the presumption of innocence. 

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in Georgia, contact us today. We specialize in Georgia Criminal Defense. We are a firm of highly experienced lawyers who care about the work that we do. We will investigate all angles of your case and determine which defenses apply in order to achieve the most favorable outcome for all involved. Don't wait to contact us - your defense starts today.