Gwinnett County Man Arrested in Indiana for Rape

Gwinnett County Courthouse

Lithonia, Ga. - A man from Lithonia has been arrested in Indiana after being accused of raping a woman.

The woman called police and was discovered with multiple wounds and lacerations. She accused the man, a former collegiate football player, of beating and raping her.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the law behind rape in the state of Georgia.

Rape in Georgia

The term rape (much like sexual assault) is thrown around often to describe acts or crimes that are not fitting by law. Rape in Georgia is defined in O.C.G.A. §16-6-1 as:

(a) A person commits the offense of rape when he has carnal knowledge of:

(1) A female forcibly and against her will; or

(2) A female who is less than ten years of age.

Carnal knowledge in rape occurs when there is any penetration of the female sex organ by the male sex organ. The fact that the person allegedly raped is the wife of the defendant is not a defense to a charge of rape.

Rape is classified as a felony. If a defendant is convicted of rape by taking their case to trial, they can face either the death penalty, life in prison without parole, or a statutory minimum of 25 years in prison followed by lifetime probation.

In addition to prison, fines, or both, a person over 21 years of age that is convicted of rape must register as a sex offender with the state of Georgia on the Georgia Sex Offender Registry. The offender faces more charges if he or she fails to register.

Practice Note

Rape is a very serious felony offense. If you or a loved one has been arrested for any type of crime, it is important for you to contact our offices now. We can help you now.