The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit worked with the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in an operation formally titled “Operation Paladin.”
Twenty men ranging from 20 to 50 year old were arrested for different offenses, but mostly for the exploitation of children online. The purpose of the operation was to catch people meeting children online and meeting them for sexual activity.
As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will focus on the sexual exploitation of children in today's post. This and other sex crimes in Georgia carry a lot of stigma and are difficult for others not to assume guilt.
Sexual Exploitation of Children in Georgia
The Georgia Code defines the criminal offense of sexual exploitation of children in Georgia in the statute, O.C.G.A. §16-12-100, by outlining the different ways that someone can commit the offense. These different actions include:
- It is unlawful for any person knowingly to employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, or coerce any minor to engage in or assist any other person to engage in any sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual medium depicting such conduct.
- It is unlawful for any parent, legal guardian, or person having custody or control of a minor knowingly to permit the minor to engage in or to assist any other person to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual medium depicting such conduct.
- It is unlawful for any person knowingly to employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, or coerce any minor to engage in or assist any other person to engage in any sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of any performance.
- It is unlawful for any parent, legal guardian, or person having custody or control of a minor knowingly to permit the minor to engage in or to assist any other person to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of any performance.
- It is unlawful for any person knowingly to create, reproduce, publish, promote, sell, distribute, give, exhibit, or possess with intent to sell or distribute any visual medium which depicts a minor or a portion of a minor's body engaged in any sexually explicit conduct.
- It is unlawful for any person knowingly to advertise, sell, purchase, barter, or exchange any medium, which provides information as to where any visual medium, which depicts a minor, or a portion of a minor's body engaged in any sexually explicit conduct can be found or purchased.
- It is unlawful for any person knowingly to bring or cause to be brought into this state any material, which depicts a minor, or a portion of a minor's body engaged in any sexually explicit conduct.
- It is unlawful for any person knowingly to possess or control any material, which depicts a minor, or a portion of a minor's body engaged in any sexually explicit conduct.
If convicted of violating O.C.G.A. §16-12-100, then the convicted person is guilty of a felony offense in Georgia. The punishment will include a prison term between five and twenty years and a fine up to $100,000.
Practice Note
There are certain situations that will cause this offense to be charged as a misdemeanor. As a Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney, I am also aware that people are wrongfully accused and arrested for crimes more often than any of us would like to think or admit.
If you or a loved one has been arrested in Georgia, contact our offices today.
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