Police Arrest Man Following Teenager Through Local Georgia Grocery Store

According to Cobb County authorities, a man attempted to lure a 16-year-old girl away from a local Food Depot on South Cobb Drive for sex.

He allegedly followed her around the grocery store and became very aggressive. The girl ended up calling 911, and the man was arrested on counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes and public intoxication in Georgia.

As a Georgia Sex Crimes Lawyer, I will outline the offense of enticing a child in today's post.

Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes in Georgia

Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes in Georgia 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.

Asportation is an element in enticing a child for indecent purposes. There must be some taking or moving the child towards somewhere that an indecent act would occur. The taking could be accomplished by using force, enticement, or persuasion.

A person convicted of enticing a child for indecent purposes will be guilty of a felony. The penalty if convicted will be a prison term between 10 and 30 years. 

However, if the victim is between 14 and 16 years old and the person convicted is 18 years or younger and no more than 4 years older than the victim, that person will be guilty of a misdemeanor.

In addition to a prison sentence, the defendant will also be required to register as a Georgia Sex Offender. If required to register as a sex offender in Georgia, you must: 1. Provide the required information to the appropriate law enforcement official before you are released from prison or placed on parole, supervised release, or probation; 2. Register in person with the sheriff of the county in which you reside within 72 hours after your release 3. If you are homeless, you still have 72 hours to notify the sheriff of the county where you sleep. O.C.G.A. §42-1-12.

Practice Note

Sex Crimes in Georgia are taken very seriously by law and by the media. The reality, however, is that when arrests or accusations occur, they should be viewed in the same light as with any other arrest.

Contact a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer today if you or a loved one has been arrested.