Judge Thomas H. Wilson ruled today that Genarlow Wilson's sentence be set aside and he be released for his time served (27 months).
The judge's ruling Monday threw out Wilson's 10-year sentence and amended it to misdemeanor aggravated child molestation with a 12-month term, plus credit for time served, and he would not be required to register as a sex offender.
"The fact that Genarlow Wilson has spent two years in prison for what is now classified as a misdemeanor, and without assistance from this court, will spend eight more years in prison, is a grave miscarriage of justice," wrote Judge Thomas H. Wilson, who is no relation to Genarlow Wilson.
"If this court or any court cannot recognize the injustice of what has occurred here, then our court system has lost sight of the goal our judicial system has always strived to accomplish ... justice being served in a fair and equal manner," the judge wrote.
The Georgia Attorney General immediately announced that he would appeal the ruling. Thurbert Baker (that's him in the picture) is a Democrat, but he was originally appointed by Zell Miller, so he's no progressive. And this is just idiotic. Under current law, Genarlow Wilson could only get a maximum penalty of six months. He's served 27. What end does it serve for him to rot in jail? The appeal of this ruling is just idiotic. So let's protest, again. As my brother said in an email today, "Bombard these idiots until they get it right!" Here are the telephone and fax numbers of the AGs; below is a link to a contact form that lets you email Georgia governor Sonny Purdue and ask him to remove AG Baker.
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF GEORGIA
THURBERT E. BAKER
40 CAPITOL SQUARE, SW
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30334
Phone: 404-656-3300
FAX: 404-657-8733
Thurbert E. Baker
Attorney General
Phone: 404-656-3300
FAX: 404-657-8733
Jeff L. Milsteen
Chief Deputy Attorney General
Phone: 404-656-3347
FAX: 404-657-8733
Mary Beth Westmoreland
Deputy Attorney General
Criminal Justice Division
Phone: 404-656-3349
FAX: 404-651-6459
Daryl A. Robinson
Counsel to the Attorney General
Phone: 404-651-6194
FAX: 404-651-7676
Russ Willard
Director of Communications
Phone: 404-463-7540
FAX: 404-651-7676
David S. McLaughlin
Special Prosecutions
Phone: 404-651-5805
FAX: 404-651-7676
Trey Ellis, Huffington Post: Save Genarlow Wilson, Remove Attorney General Thurbert Baker
Click here to sent [AG Baker] a message.
When the form asks what is your message choose "other" (the last category) and then type in the box below it "Genarlow Wilson."
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9 comments:
I guess we'll have to hope he'll pick up the phone in his annoyance at being bombarded!
Called the main AG's office, receptionist transferred me to voice-mail, and I left a message.
Knuckleheads.
Whatever happened to prosecutorial discretion, proportionality, fairness, and a sense of justice? I'm supposed to be wowed by the fact that you're still driving for a plea bargain at this late date? That's supposed to make me feel like you're really upholding the values of the people of the state?
Again, knuckleheads.
Anfield Iron
It would be nice if some of you would bother to check Georgia law. I am a defense lawyer and no more like folks doing time in jail than the defendants themselves, but the AG has no choice. It is his job to defend the law, even if it is passed by idiotic legislators and even if he himself finds it to be idiotic, which this AG does. It is his job to uphold the law that says a judge presiding over a habeas case cannot "resentence" someone. If a habeas judge were to resentence my client to a higher sentence would I want the AG to support that illegal sentence? If you want the law changed, the legislators must change it or a judge with jurisdiction must find it unconstitutional. Neither Thurbert Baker nor Judge Wilson have that right, duty, or power. Before you get on a soapbox and mislead the general public, check your facts and the law. Thurbert Baker is following the law he is bound by and that he has sworn an oath to uphold. On this issue, he is in the right, though I may not like the result.
Then residents need to urge the Legislature to set this young man free.
to anonymous, comment #4: Sometimes the law is an ass. And must be ignored. Or overturned. As Edmund Burke said: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Keep calling until this injustice is set aside.
How do you contact the Georgia State Legislature?
What is the guy thinking??? Child molestors dont get that stiff of sentences, and besides if this were to be the standard we would have to jail every teenager in America!!!!
I have followed this case on television and am appalled that this sort of injustice not only occurs but noone has the power or intensity to help this young man. The judicial system in this country reminds me of the IRS, both a tangle of red tape and rules that deal with people as numbers not as human beings. No wonder the American people have no faith in our government or legal system.
I support an impeachment of this Attorney General. Every active and concerned citizen should look into bringing this into fruition! He made this absurb stance regarding Genarlow Wilson and yet He, Attorney Gen. Baker has as his Assitant Communications Director, someone who was arrested last year on felony charges and is now herself, being investigated by the GA State Ethics Commission! This is who represents him.
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