Former Pastor Sentenced to 20 Years in Cumming

Forsyth County Courthouse

Cumming, Ga. - The Forsyth County District Attorney's Office reported that a former Metro Atlanta pastor has pleaded guilty to three counts of child molestation this past week. He has been sentenced to serve 5 years out of a 20 year sentenced at 81 years old.

Not many details have been released regarding the allegations. But as a Georgia Sex Crimes Lawyer, I will outline the offenses of child molestation and aggravated child molestation in today's post.

Child Molestation in Georgia

According to Georgia law, child molestation in Georgia is defined as:

When a person does any immoral or indecent act to or in the presence of or with any child under the age of 16 years with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the person; or by means of an electronic device, transmits images of a person engaging in, inducing, or otherwise participating in any immoral or indecent act to a child under the age of 16 years with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the person” (O.C.G.A. §16-6-4(a)1-2)). 

To be convicted of child molestation, the state of Georgia must show that the accused person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by demonstrating that an immoral or indecent act was committed by said person to a child under the age of 16 years old.

A conviction of child molestation is a felony, and the penalties include five to twenty years in prison as well as counseling from the Department of Corrections. For a second conviction of child molestation, the penalty includes ten to thirty years in prison or a life sentence. 

However, if the victim is between 14-16 years old, and the convicted person is younger than 18 and no more than 4 years apart from the victim, then the crime will be considered a misdemeanor. 

Practice Note

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