People charged with sexual assault or child sex offenses face hostile prosecutors and harsh public opinion. Most people, even some criminal defense attorneys, are only too willing to believe the worst about those accused of sex offenses. Our firm knows that not all people accused of sex offenses are in fact guilty of the charges. We believe that those facing such grave charges deserve the best possible defense and representation.
At Lawrence Lewis, P.C. we recognize that a conviction for a sex crime will almost certainly result in prison time, lifetime registration as a sex offender, and a permanently destroyed reputation. In 2006, sex offender laws were overhauled in Georgia, and four (4) sexual offenses were modified to require a mandatory minimum life in prison, which means thirty years in prison before the convicted person is considered for parole. These include:
(1) Rape (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-1), which is defined as any penetration of the female sex organ by the male sex organ, forcibly and against the female’s will;
(2) Aggravated Sodomy (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-2), which is defined as performing or submitting to any sexual act involving the sex organs of one person and the mouth or anus of another, with force and against the will of the other person;
(3) Aggravated Child Molestation (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-4), which is defined as any immoral or indecent act committed against, or in the presence of, or with any child under the age of sixteen years with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the person, which act physically injures the child or involves an act of sodomy (i.e. performing or submitting to any sexual act involving the sex organs of one person and the mouth or anus of another; and
(4) Aggravated Sexual Battery (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22.2), which is defined as intentionally penetrating with a foreign object (e.g. finger, bottle, stick) the sexual organ or anus of another person without the consent of that person.
In addition to these four grave sex offenses, the Georgia state legislature added a list of other sexual offenses that no longer qualify for first offender treatment under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60, which means the accused will have both a felony conviction on the date of the plea and a requirement to register as a sexual offender. These sexual offenses include:
(1) Aggravated Assault with intent to Rape (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-21);
(2) False Imprisonment (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-41), where the victim is less than fourteen years old, and is not the defendant’s child;
(3) Sodomy (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-2);
(4) Statutory Rape (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-3), if the defendant is twenty-one years of age or older;
(5) Child Molestation (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-4);
(6) Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-5);
(7) Sexual assault against a person in custody (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-5.1);
(8) Incest (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-222);
(9) Sexual exploitation of a minor (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-100); and
(10) Computer porn and child exploitation (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-100.2).
If you have been charged with any of the aforementioned sex crimes, or other sex crimes, in Georgia, you are facing dire consequences, which may carry lifelong penalties and may ruin your reputation within your community, not to mention your chances to pursue certain personal and professional endeavors. After more than fifteen years in criminal law, Lawrence Lewis has heard every kind of rape allegation, child molestation accusation, and lewd conduct charge. He will listen carefully, and evaluate your situation to assess how to best defend you, not judge you.
If you are being falsely accused, our firm will investigate the victim’s emotional and behavioral problems, psychological issues, criminal record, drug use, history of false allegations and any relevant facts that can be used to defend you. Our only allegiance is to the client.
Please find attached a list of other clients we have helped. See more under Recent Trials.
CASE: State of Georgia v. Kristopher Shane Holland (10B-3865-8)
RESULT: (January, 2011) Three day jury trial on one count of rape, which carries a mandatory minimum of life in prison (thirty year prison sentence before parole eligibility) resulted in NOT GUILTY, after jury deliberated for ninety (90) minutes.
CASE: State of Georgia v. David Michael Sterling(09-B-5014-10
RESULT: (March 2010) Five day jury trial on two counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of sodomy and one count of child molestation resulted in NOT GUILTY on all charges.
CASE: State of Georgia v. Kenneth Anthony Jones (07B-4449-10)
RESULT: (November 2009) Five day jury trial on one count of rape, one count of incest, two counts of child molestation, one count of aggravated sodomy and one count of aggravated sexual battery. Jury deliberated for forty-five minutes, and returned NOT GUILTY verdict on all counts.
CASE: State of Georgia v. Isaac H. Dewater (06B-3989-2)
RESULT: (February 2008) Four day jury trial on child molestation resulted in NOT GUILTY verdict.
If you have been charged with a sex offense and you would like to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney, call an experienced sex offense defense lawyer or attorney at Lawrence Lewis, P.C. today at (678) 407-9300.
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Lawrence Lewis primarily practices in Gwinnett County, which includes the following cities: Auburn, Berkeley Lake, Braselton, Buford, Dacula, Duluth, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Snellville, Sugar Hill and Suwanee. However, he frequently handles cases in Fulton County (Atlanta, Alpharetta, College Park, Decatur, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Palmetto, Roswell, Union City), DeKalb County (Avondale Estates, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Lithonia, Stone Mountain), Hall County (Gainesville), and Cobb County (Acworth, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs, Smyrna). He has also appeared in courthouses in Rockdale County (Conyers), Walton County (Loganville), Barrow County (Auburn, Winder), Forsyth County (Cumming), Cherokee County (Canton, Holly Springs, Woodstock), Douglas County (Douglasville), Butts County (Jackson), Henry County (McDonough, Stockbridge) and Clayton County.
