Hall County Man Arrested for Child Molestation

According to reports out of Hall County, a 40-year-old man has been arrested after the alleged victim's family filed a complaint accusing him molesting a 12-year-old boy.

The complaint alleged that the molestation occurred in October of last year.

As a Georgia Sex Crimes Lawyer, I will outline the offense of both child molestation and the elevated offense of aggravated child molestation in the state of Georgia so as to provide a better understanding of our state's laws.

Child Molestation in Georgia

Child molestation in Georgia is defined in the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. § 16-6-4(a) as:

A person commits the offense of child molestation when the person either:

1. 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
2. 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.

Child molestation is classified as a felony. For the first child molestation conviction, the accused will face a sentence of five to twenty years in prison. For a second or subsequent conviction of child molestation, the punishment increases to a prison term between ten and thirty years or life in prison.

Aggravated Child Molestation in Georgia

Aggravated child molestation in Georgia is defined in the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. § 16-6-4(c) as:

A person commits the offense of aggravated child molestation when such person commits the offense of child molestation which act physically injures the child or involves an act of sodomy.

Aggravated child molestation is classified as a felony as well. A person convicted of aggravated child molestation will be punished by life in prison or by a split sentence of at least 25 years in prison followed by probation for life.

Practice Note

Sex Crime Laws in Georgia are complicated and very serious. If you or a loved one has been arrested for a sex crime in Georgia, contact our offices today. No one should attempt to dissect criminal law on their own without the help of a professional.

We focus solely on Georgia Criminal Law. Call us now.