Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Georgia Black Caucus embraces rape-friendly platform
Perhaps encouraged by the recent acquittal of Jayson Williams on manslaugher charges, making the world safe for athlete murderers, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the rape conviction of a high school athlete as members of the Peach State's Black Caucus waved their pom-poms.
"By Associated Press
Monday, May 3, 2004
ATLANTA - A black teenager's 10-year prison sentence for having sex with a younger, white schoolmate was thrown out Monday by the Georgia Supreme Court.
The state's highest court ruled 18-year-old Marcus Dixon should have been prosecuted just on the lesser charge of misdemeanor statutory rape rather than aggravated child molestation for having sex with a 15-year-old in February 2003.
Dixon had claimed he was targeted because he is black and had sex with a white girl. His case drew protests from the NAACP.
Dixon was acquitted on felony rape charges but found guilty of aggravated child molestation, which comes with a mandatory decade-long sentence, as well as statutory rape. Monday's ruling lets the statutory rape conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of one year and a $1,000 fine, stand.
It was unclear how soon Dixon could be released from prison because he's been in jail since last May, meaning he may already have served enough time for his misdemeanor sentence, said Heather Hedrick, spokeswoman for the state parole board.
Dixon's case had led some lawmakers to push for change in the state's mandatory sentencing law, and members of the state House black caucus broke into applause Monday when the court's ruling was announced.
``What a joy it is in our state to see justice for a young man,'' said state Rep. Alisha Thomas-Morgan.
Dixon, an honor student and star football player at Pepperell High School in Rome, was accused of having sex with the 15-year-old student at a trailer after school.
The defense argued the sex between the two teens was consensual and had been planned.
Prosecutors argued Dixon forced himself on his victim, causing vaginal bruising and tearing.
The girl testified that she tried to escape from the trailer, where she was working as an assistant custodian, but did not scream or shout for help.
``I was too scared. I was afraid he'd hit me or something,'' she said.
Oh by the way: he's back in court later this month.
According to AP: "Dixon is scheduled to stand trial this month on a separate sexual battery charge for allegedly putting his hands in the shorts of a 14-year-old student."
"By Associated Press
Monday, May 3, 2004
ATLANTA - A black teenager's 10-year prison sentence for having sex with a younger, white schoolmate was thrown out Monday by the Georgia Supreme Court.
The state's highest court ruled 18-year-old Marcus Dixon should have been prosecuted just on the lesser charge of misdemeanor statutory rape rather than aggravated child molestation for having sex with a 15-year-old in February 2003.
Dixon had claimed he was targeted because he is black and had sex with a white girl. His case drew protests from the NAACP.
Dixon was acquitted on felony rape charges but found guilty of aggravated child molestation, which comes with a mandatory decade-long sentence, as well as statutory rape. Monday's ruling lets the statutory rape conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of one year and a $1,000 fine, stand.
It was unclear how soon Dixon could be released from prison because he's been in jail since last May, meaning he may already have served enough time for his misdemeanor sentence, said Heather Hedrick, spokeswoman for the state parole board.
Dixon's case had led some lawmakers to push for change in the state's mandatory sentencing law, and members of the state House black caucus broke into applause Monday when the court's ruling was announced.
``What a joy it is in our state to see justice for a young man,'' said state Rep. Alisha Thomas-Morgan.
Dixon, an honor student and star football player at Pepperell High School in Rome, was accused of having sex with the 15-year-old student at a trailer after school.
The defense argued the sex between the two teens was consensual and had been planned.
Prosecutors argued Dixon forced himself on his victim, causing vaginal bruising and tearing.
The girl testified that she tried to escape from the trailer, where she was working as an assistant custodian, but did not scream or shout for help.
``I was too scared. I was afraid he'd hit me or something,'' she said.
Oh by the way: he's back in court later this month.
According to AP: "Dixon is scheduled to stand trial this month on a separate sexual battery charge for allegedly putting his hands in the shorts of a 14-year-old student."
