ATLANTA (February 26, 2019) | Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Sen. Harold Jones II (D – Augusta), received favorable consideration from the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday. SB 9 would create a new, distinct crime of sexual extortion.
“For too long, this gap in Georgia law has led to the exploitation and extortion of individuals across the state,” said Sen. Jones. “This bill will help those who are victimized, while also assisting our law enforcement and criminal justice agencies by keeping our laws up to date on new and evolving criminal acts. I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for helping refine this legislation, as well as the many citizens across the state who have reached out to me to voice their support for this measure. I look forward to continuing to work on this bill as it moves through the legislative process.”
Under this bill, the crime of sexual extortion has been committed if an individual intentionally coerces someone over the age of 18 to “distribute any photograph, video or other image that depicts any individual in the state of nudity or engaged in sexually explicit conduct.” Those who are found guilty of this crime would be punished with a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature on the first offense, and subject to a felony and imprisonment of one to five years on a second or any subsequent offense. SB 9 has now been sent to the Senate Rules Committee for consideration.
Progress of SB 9 can be followed at: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20192020/SB/9
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For Immediate Release:
Feb. 26, 2019
Andrew Allison, Broadcast
andrew.allison@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028