Genarlow Wilson faces at least another month in prison
As detailed in this Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, despite a big win in his state habeas action overturning his initial sentence, “Genarlow Wilson will remain behind bars at least until next month, when a judge will decide whether he should be released from prison pending an appeal.” Here are some more details:
Wilson, now 21, moved a step closer to freedom Monday when Monroe County Superior Court Judge Thomas H. Wilson granted his petition to throw out his 10-year prison sentence. The judge agreed the sentence “would be viewed by society as ‘cruel and unusual’ in the constitutional sense of disproportionality.” The judge also ordered him freed from prison and changed his felony conviction to a misdemeanor without the requirement that he register as a sex offender.
Within hours, however, state Attorney General Thurbert Baker filed notice that he would appeal the ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court. Baker is arguing the judge overstepped his authority. Several civil rights activists demonstrated outside Baker’s office Monday, calling on him to back off his appeal or resign. “I think he should be admired for standing up in the face of all that and doing his job,” [Douglas County District Attorney David] McDade said. “His sworn duty is to protect all Georgians.”
Related posts will background on the Wilson case: