Part-time Georgia Judge Facing Serious Accusations

Part-time judge and attorney in Walton County, George Jeffery, has been accused of 12 different charges involving the sexual exploitation of children. Each charge involves a different crime. So, as a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the offense so as to spread some light as to what he has been accused of doing.

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Georgia

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Georgia is defined in statute O.C.G.A. §16-12-100 of the Georgia Code. Georgia Law outlines the different ways that someone can commit the offense:

• 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 sexual exploitation of children in Georgia, then the convicted person is convicted of a felony.  The punishment will include a prison term between five and twenty years and a fine up to $100,000. 

Practice Note

Jeffery is facing 12 different charges of sexual exploitation of children. Most of the charges, according to reports, involve pornographic photographs and videos of children. Moreover, there is also a charge of enticing a child for indecent purposes in Georgia. 

According to Jeffery's attorney, he plans to plead not guilty and has offered no further comment. He is being held in Barrow County. 

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney, I feel it necessary to point out that an accusation or an arrest is not the same thing as a conviction. Wrongful accusations happen more often than anyone would like to admit. 

If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact our offices today.