Group of Teenagers Call Georgia Police After Allegedly Accosted by Adult Man

Dominick Vanwagner, a 28-year-old man from Duluth, has been arrested after being accused of offering cigarettes to a group of young teenagers in exchange for sexual acts.

He was arrested on Saturday night in Forsyth County after deputies responded to a 911 call from four teenagers. According to reports, the teenagers told Vanwagner to go away and that his requests were inappropriate. However, he persisted, and one of the teenagers called police.

He was arrested on several charges including enticing a child for indecent purposes. As a Georgia Sex Crimes Lawyer, I will spend today's post outlining the law behind enticement. The law itself can be complicated, and most people are unaware of the strict consequences that can occur if convicted.

Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes

Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §16-6-5 as:

A person commits the crime of enticing a child for indecent purposes when he or she solicits, entices, or takes any child under the age of 16 years to a place whatsoever for the purpose of child molestation or indecent acts.

Enticing a child for indecent purposes will is classified as a felony in Georgia. The penalty will be a prison term between 10 and 30 years. 

In addition to a prison sentence, the defendant will also be required to register as a sex offender. This requirement is typical for most sex crimes in Georgia. The convicted person is required to register with the Georgia Sex Offender Registry, and can even receive more charges for failing to register.

Practice Note

Georgia has many laws regarding sex crimes. The subtle differences between them can be overwhelming. Moreover, Georgia Sexual Offender Punishments are severe.

When it comes to sex crimes, many people assume guilt rather than innocence and do not wait to hear the other side of the story. Here at Lawson and Berry we believe in the presumption of innocence. An arrest is not the same as a conviction. If you or a loved one has been accused, contact a Georgia Sex Crimes Attorney today.