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Georgia Sex Crime Defense Attorneys

Georgia Sexual Offense Lawyers

We Don't Back Down.

Few accusations carry more weight than a sexual-offense charge — and few demand a more discreet, forensic, and aggressive defense. An accusation is not proof. You are presumed innocent, and the State must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt. From the first phone call, Morrison & Hughes protects your name, your record, and your freedom with strict confidentiality.

Request a Confidential Case Review Call 404-LAW-TEAM
100% confidential consultation
Discreet, forensic defense
Available 24/7 after an arrest
25yr
Mandatory Minimum
For rape & aggravated child molestation (O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1)
0
Registry Risk Levels
Level I, Level II & Sexually Dangerous Predator (O.C.G.A. § 42-1-14)
0+
On Georgia's Registry
Registered offenders statewide (GBI Sex Offender Registry)
0yr
SOL for Forcible Rape
With limited DNA exceptions (O.C.G.A. § 17-3-1)
Discreet, Aggressive Defense

An Accusation Can Upend a Life. We Stand Between You and the State.

A sexual-offense charge in Georgia threatens far more than a sentence. It threatens your reputation, your career, your family, and — for many convictions — decades of mandatory prison time followed by a lifetime on the sex offender registry. The stakes are as high as the criminal law allows.

These cases are also among the most defensible when handled correctly. They frequently turn on a single witness, on disputed consent, on a mistaken or coached identification, or on forensic evidence that does not say what the State claims. False allegations happen — in custody disputes, in breakups, in misunderstandings. The presumption of innocence exists precisely because an accusation is not the truth.

Morrison & Hughes defends people accused of sex crimes throughout Georgia with discretion and resolve. We scrutinize the interview, the SANE exam, the DNA, the digital forensics, and the credibility of every witness. We hold the State to its burden and prepare each case for trial. Every conversation is strictly confidential. There is no judgment here — only a defense team that does not back down.

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Defense attorney reviewing case files with scales of justice in a Georgia law office
Charges We Defend

Georgia Sexual Offenses We Handle

Georgia's sex-crime statutes carry some of the harshest penalties in the criminal code — including mandatory minimums and lifetime registration. We defend the full range of charges, building an individualized, forensic defense for each one.

O.C.G.A. § 16-6-1

Rape

Carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. A serious violent felony — the defense must challenge consent, identity, and forensic proof from the outset.

25 years to life, life, or life without parole.

O.C.G.A. § 16-6-3

Statutory Rape

Intercourse with a person under 16 who is not a spouse. Consent and good-faith belief about age are not defenses — making age, identity, and the alleged act the battleground.

1–20 years (10–20 if defendant is 21+).

O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22.2

Aggravated Sexual Battery

Intentional penetration with a foreign object without consent. A serious violent felony with a 25-year mandatory minimum — the forensic and consent defenses are decisive.

25 years to life + lifetime probation.

O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22.1

Sexual Battery

Intentional physical contact with intimate parts without consent. A misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature in many cases, but a felony on a second offense or against a minor.

Misdemeanor up to felony exposure.

O.C.G.A. § 16-6-4

Child Molestation

An immoral or indecent act to, with, or in the presence of a child under 16 with sexual intent. Often rests entirely on a child's account — making the interview process critical.

5–20 years on a first offense.

O.C.G.A. § 16-6-4(c)

Aggravated Child Molestation

Child molestation that physically injures the child or involves sodomy. A serious violent felony carrying the law's most severe non-homicide penalties.

Life, or 25 years to life + lifetime probation.

O.C.G.A. § 16-6-5

Enticing a Child

Soliciting, enticing, or taking a child under 16 for an indecent act. Online-sting and entrapment defenses are common where law enforcement posed as a minor.

10–30 years.

O.C.G.A. § 16-12-100

Sexual Exploitation of Children

Possession, distribution, or production of child pornography. We challenge the search warrant, the digital forensics, knowing possession, and chain of custody.

Up to 20 years per count; escalating on repeat.

O.C.G.A. § 42-1-12

Registry & Failure to Register

Registration is a lifelong consequence, and a failure-to-register charge is a separate felony. We fight classification and pursue removal or reclassification where the law allows.

Felony exposure for non-compliance.

The Numbers Behind the Charges

Georgia Sexual Offense Statistics

The data below — from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program, and Georgia's statutory sentencing scheme — shows why a sex-crime accusation in Georgia must be taken with the utmost seriousness, and why the right defense matters from day one. These figures are presented for context only.

Penalty Exposure by Charge

Minimum prison exposure (years)
Source: O.C.G.A. §§ 16-6-1, 16-6-3, 16-6-4, 17-10-6.1 — statutory minimum sentences; rape and aggravated child molestation carry a 25-year mandatory minimum.

Reported Rape Offenses in Georgia

Offenses reported to law enforcement
Source: GBI Georgia Crime Statistics / FBI UCR-NIBRS, approximate annual reported rape offenses statewide. Reported offenses are allegations, not adjudications.

Registry Risk Classification

Three tiers under O.C.G.A. § 42-1-14
Source: Georgia Sexual Offender Registration Review Board (SORRB) — offenders are classified Level I (lower risk), Level II (intermediate), or Sexually Dangerous Predator.

Statute of Limitations by Offense

Years the State has to bring charges
Source: O.C.G.A. § 17-3-1 — forcible rape generally 15 years; many child-victim offenses extend to the victim's adulthood; DNA evidence can toll certain limits.
How We Fight

Defenses to a Georgia Sex Crime Charge

No two accusations are alike, and there is no single defense. We investigate independently, retain our own forensic experts, and test every assumption the State makes — because thorough preparation is what reduces, suppresses, and dismisses charges.

False or Fabricated Allegations

Accusations arise in bitter divorces, custody fights, breakups, and misunderstandings. We investigate motive, timeline, and inconsistencies, and we expose suggestive or coercive interviews that shaped a false account.

Consent (Where Applicable)

In adult cases, consent can be a complete defense. We examine communications, witness accounts, and the surrounding circumstances to show the encounter was consensual — never assuming the State's version is the only one.

Mistaken Identity

Eyewitness identification is notoriously unreliable. We challenge suggestive lineups, scrutinize cross-racial and stress-affected identifications, and test alibi and location evidence including cell-site and surveillance data.

Forensic & DNA Challenges

DNA shows contact, not a crime — and labs make errors. We audit collection, storage, chain of custody, mixture interpretation, and SANE-exam findings, retaining independent experts to re-examine the State's conclusions.

Due Process & Suppression

Illegal searches, coerced statements, Miranda violations, and warrantless device searches can all be suppressed. We move to exclude evidence obtained in violation of your constitutional rights — and a suppressed case is often a dismissed one.

Entrapment & Online Stings

In internet cases, officers often pose as minors. Where law enforcement induced conduct you were not predisposed to commit, entrapment and intent defenses can defeat the charge entirely.

Confidential Case Review

Request a Confidential Case Review

Tell us what you're facing. Your message goes straight to our defense team and is treated with strict confidentiality. A Morrison & Hughes attorney will reach out promptly — no judgment, no obligation. If your situation is urgent, or if you have been contacted by an investigator, call 404-LAW-TEAM now and do not speak with anyone else first.

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Thank you for trusting Morrison & Hughes. Your information is confidential. A criminal defense attorney will review what you've shared and contact you promptly to discuss your options.

Need to talk now? Call 404-LAW-TEAM — we're available 24/7. Until you speak with us, exercise your right to remain silent and do not discuss the allegation with anyone.
Know the Statutes

Georgia Sexual Offense Law: What You Need to Know

Georgia's sex-crime statutes are among the most severe in the code. Understanding how a charge is defined, what it carries, and how the registry works can change the entire course of a case. These are the rules that matter most.

O.C.G.A. § 16-6-1

Rape

Carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Punishable by death, life without parole, life, or a split sentence of at least 25 years followed by lifetime probation. A serious violent felony under § 17-10-6.1.

O.C.G.A. § 16-6-3

Statutory Rape

Intercourse with a person under 16 who is not a spouse, regardless of consent. Punishable by 1 to 20 years; if the accused is 21 or older, the sentence is 10 to 20 years. Misdemeanor "Romeo and Juliet" treatment applies in narrow age-gap cases.

O.C.G.A. §§ 16-6-22.1 & 16-6-22.2

Sexual Battery & Aggravated Sexual Battery

Sexual battery (unwanted intimate contact) is a high and aggravated misdemeanor, escalating to a felony on repeat or child-victim cases. Aggravated sexual battery (penetration with a foreign object) is a serious violent felony carrying 25 years to life.

O.C.G.A. § 16-6-4

Child Molestation & Aggravated Child Molestation

Child molestation carries 5 to 20 years on a first offense. Aggravated child molestation — involving injury or sodomy — is a serious violent felony punishable by life, or 25 years to life followed by lifetime probation.

O.C.G.A. §§ 17-10-6.1 & 17-10-7

Mandatory Minimums & Recidivists

Rape, aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation, and aggravated sexual battery are serious violent felonies with a 25-year mandatory minimum, served day-for-day. The recidivist statute (§ 17-10-7) can require the maximum or life without parole for repeat offenders.

O.C.G.A. §§ 42-1-12 & 42-1-14

Sex Offender Registry & Risk Classification

Most sex-crime convictions require lifetime registration with the GBI-managed registry (§ 42-1-12). The Sexual Offender Registration Review Board assigns a Level I, Level II, or Sexually Dangerous Predator classification (§ 42-1-14) that governs residency, reporting, and monitoring.

Before You're Charged

If You're Under Investigation for a Sex Crime

The most important window in a sex-crime case is often before an arrest is ever made. What you do now can determine whether charges are filed at all. Protect yourself.

1. Do Not Talk to Investigators

A detective who calls "just to get your side" is building a case. You have the right to remain silent — use it. Politely say you will not speak without a lawyer, then stop. There is no such thing as talking your way out of it.

2. Don't Contact the Accuser

Do not call, text, message, or have anyone reach out on your behalf. Such contact can become evidence, an additional charge, or the basis for a protective order. Let your attorney handle all communication.

3. Preserve Everything

Save texts, emails, photos, social media, location data, and anything that documents the relationship or timeline. Do not delete anything — deletion can be charged as obstruction and looks like guilt.

4. Don't Consent to Searches

You can decline a search of your phone, computer, car, or home. Saying "I do not consent" preserves powerful suppression arguments — even if officers obtain a warrant later.

5. Stay Off Social Media

Do not post about the situation, the accuser, or your life. Anything you publish can be screenshotted and used. Assume everything is being watched.

6. Call Morrison & Hughes Immediately

Early involvement lets us engage investigators, present exculpatory evidence, and sometimes prevent charges entirely. Call 404-LAW-TEAM — confidential, 24/7.

Common Questions

Georgia Sex Crime Defense FAQs

Is everything I tell Morrison & Hughes confidential?
Yes. Communications with our attorneys for the purpose of seeking legal advice are protected by the attorney-client privilege and kept strictly confidential. We understand how personal and frightening these accusations are. Your initial consultation is private and carries no obligation — there is no judgment here, only a team committed to defending you.
I'm innocent. Should I just explain my side to the detective?
No. You are presumed innocent, and the entire burden is on the State to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt — you do not have to help them. Even truthful statements can be misremembered, taken out of context, or used to fill gaps in the State's case. Politely invoke your right to remain silent and your right to counsel, and call a lawyer before you say anything to anyone.
Can someone be convicted on just one person's word?
It is possible — Georgia law does not always require physical or corroborating evidence. That is exactly why these cases turn on credibility. We investigate the accuser's account for inconsistencies and motive, examine how any interview was conducted, and test the reliability of every statement. A single account is not the same as proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
What penalties does a sex crime carry in Georgia?
They are among the harshest in the code. Statutory rape (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-3) carries 1 to 20 years (10 to 20 if the accused is 21 or older); child molestation (§ 16-6-4) carries 5 to 20 years; and the "serious violent felonies" — rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, and aggravated sexual battery — carry a 25-year mandatory minimum under § 17-10-6.1, served day-for-day, often followed by lifetime probation and registration.
Will I have to register as a sex offender?
Most sex-crime convictions require registration on the GBI-managed Georgia Sex Offender Registry under O.C.G.A. § 42-1-12, frequently for life. The Sexual Offender Registration Review Board assigns a Level I, Level II, or Sexually Dangerous Predator classification (§ 42-1-14) that controls where you can live and work and how often you must report. Avoiding a registrable conviction — and fighting an unfair classification — is central to how we defend these cases.
Is consent a defense in Georgia?
In cases involving adults, consent can be a complete defense, and we build the record to prove it. In cases involving a minor, however, consent is not a defense to statutory rape or child molestation, and a good-faith belief that the person was older generally does not excuse the conduct. That shifts the defense to issues of identity, the alleged act itself, age proof, and constitutional violations — all of which we attack.
How long does the State have to charge a sex crime?
Under O.C.G.A. § 17-3-1, forcible rape generally must be prosecuted within 15 years, and certain offenses against children can be charged until well after the victim reaches adulthood. DNA evidence can toll or extend some of these deadlines. Because the rules are nuanced and exceptions apply, the limitations period in your specific case should always be reviewed by an attorney.
How much does a sex crime defense lawyer cost?
Fees depend on the charge, the court, and the complexity of the case, including the experts a strong forensic defense may require — these matters are not handled on a contingency basis. We'll explain our fee clearly and up front during your confidential consultation, with no surprises. Given what a conviction costs — prison, registration, and your future — experienced defense is an investment in protecting everything you have.
From the Morrison & Hughes Blog

Sex Crime Defense Resources

Straight, confidential guidance for people accused of or investigated for sex crimes in Georgia, written by attorneys who defend them. Read these before you talk to anyone.

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How bail and bond work in Georgia, the conditions a court can impose, and how to get a loved one released as quickly as possible.

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Visit the Morrison & Hughes Blog

More straight-talking, confidential guidance on Georgia criminal law, your rights, and how to fight the charges you're facing.

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Related Practice Areas

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Many sex offenses are "serious violent felonies" carrying mandatory minimums under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1. We defend the most serious felony charges across Georgia.

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Criminal Defense

Aggressive, confidential defense for every misdemeanor and felony in Georgia — from the first phone call through trial. Your record and your freedom come first.

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Battery & Aggravated Assault

Sex-crime allegations are sometimes charged alongside assault or family-violence counts. We defend overcharging and separate a dispute from a felony.

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Service Areas: Find Your Local Sex Crime Defense Attorney

Six office locations across Georgia. We defend the accused statewide — discreetly.

Marietta Alpharetta & Roswell Decatur Hiram Fayetteville LaGrange All Service Areas

Accused of a Sex Crime in Georgia? Call Now.

Confidential consultation — available 24/7. We'll listen without judgment, explain exactly what you're facing, and start protecting your name and your freedom today. If you've been contacted by an investigator, do not wait and do not speak to anyone else first.

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