Tip Leads to Arrest of Georgia Man for Sexual Exploitation of Children

According to reports out of Hall County, Nathren Armour, a 60-year-old man was accused of possessing a lewd photograph of a child under the age of 14. He's facing a charge of sexual exploitation of children and was arrested this past week. His arrest occurred after a tip was submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

As a Georgia Sex Crimes Attorney, I will outline the offense of sexual exploitation of children as well as the penalties if convicted of the crime.

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Georgia

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Georgia is laid out by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §16-12-100 as:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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 a person violates subsection (1), (5), (7), or (8) of this Code section, they will be guilty of a misdemeanor if the facts of the offense meet the following circumstances. First, the minor depicted was at least 14 years old. Next, the medium was created with the permission of the minor. The accused was 18 years old or younger at the time of the crime; and the medium was not distributed to another person. The medium must have been not made for the purpose of harassing, intimidating or embarrassing the minor or for any commercial purpose.Misdemeanor convictions in Georgia carry penalties of fines up to $1,000, jail time up to one year, or both.

For all other sections and situations, a person who is convicted of sexual exploitation shall be guilty of a felony. The punishment will include a prison term between five and twenty years and a fine up to $100,000.

Practice Note

Remember - just because someone has been accused of committing a crime does not mean that they are guilty of committing that offense. If you or a loved one has been arrested or wrongfully accused of a crime, you need to call today. Representation by the Best Georgia Criminal Lawyer is necessary if you want to get the best outcome in your case. Call now.