Child sex law author joining effort to free Genarlow Wilson

The former state lawmaker who wrote the law that sent Genarlow Wilson to prison is joining efforts to free the 21-year-old.

Former state Rep. Matt Towery says he will file papers with the Georgia Supreme Court clarifying the intent of the 1995 Child Protection Act.

Meanwhile, people working to free Wilson will hold rally at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Douglas County Courthouse.

A bond hearing had been scheduled Thursday for Wilson, but a judge canceled the hearing after ruling June 27 that Wilson is ineligible for bond while he appeals his sentence for having consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17.

The Legislature has changed the law to eliminate the mandatory 10-year sentence for aggravated child molestation in such cases, but lawmakers did not make the change retroactive.

The Georgia Supreme Court is to hear the latest appeal in October. Wilson's lawyers had sought to get him released on bond while the appeal moved forward.

AJC