Any type of criminal activity and accusation should not be taken lightly. But it is no secret that accusations of sex crimes carry additional weight and gravity both within the community and for the accused.
This is the current situation facing for a former teacher near Atlanta. He is accused of allegedly engaging in sexual intercourse with a female student in January 2012. The former teacher was indicted on March 28th for the charge relating to the alleged sex crimes. In this case, the law states that even if the relationship was consensual, did not occur on school property and even if the student was 18 years old or older, it is still a crime if the teacher and student had sexual relations. If the former teacher is found guilty, he could be sentenced for up to 25 years in prison and face a fine of up to $100,000.
Facing an accusation of a sexual assault charge has the potential for long-lasting ramifications both in the defendant’s personal life and professional life. Even if the accusations turn out to be false accusations, the damage to reputation may be irreparable. Further, the defendant may have already lost his or her job, not to mentioned the high probability of community shaming.
Defendants may have no other choice but to leave the area and start over, even if completely innocent. In addition to that, if the teacher in this case pleads guilty or is found guilty, he would be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Accusations of sex crimes, no matter where they originate should always be taken seriously because of the potential consequences. Defendants facing these types of charges should not take on the case alone without legal representation.
Source: My Fox Atlanta, “Former Cobb Co. teacher faces sexual assault charge,” April 4, 2013