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2018 Georgia Code 16-6-15 | Car Wreck Lawyer

TITLE 16 CRIMES AND OFFENSES

Section 6. Sexual Offenses, 16-6-1 through 16-6-25.

ARTICLE 9 NOTICE OF CONVICTION AND RELEASE FROM CONFINEMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS

16-6-15. Solicitation of sodomy.

  1. A person commits the offense of solicitation of sodomy when he solicits another to perform or submit to an act of sodomy. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, a person convicted of solicitation of sodomy shall be punished as for a misdemeanor.
  2. A person convicted of solicitation of sodomy when such offense involves the solicitation of a person or persons under the age of 18 years to perform or submit to an act of sodomy for money shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of not less than five nor more than 20 years and shall be fined not less than $2,500.00 nor more than $10,000.00.

(Code 1933, § 26-2003, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 1797, § 3; Ga. L. 2001, p. 92, § 6.)

Cross references.

- Actions for childhood sexual abuse, § 9-3-33.1.

Affirmative defense to certain sexual crimes, § 16-3-6.

Law reviews.

- For article, "Misdemeanor Sentencing in Georgia," see 7 Ga. St. B.J. 8 (2001). For note on the 2001 amendment to O.C.G.A. § 16-6-15, see 18 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 32 (2001).

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

Constitutionality.

- Solicitation of sodomy is speech which advocates the commission of a crime and is not protected by the constitution. Christensen v. State, 266 Ga. 474, 468 S.E.2d 188 (1996).

Powell v. State, 270 Ga. 327, 510 S.E.2d 18 (1998), which struck down O.C.G.A. § 16-6-2, insofar as it applies to private, non-commercial acts between consenting adults, did not impliedly strike O.C.G.A. § 16-6-15. Howard v. State, 272 Ga. 242, 527 S.E.2d 194 (2000).

To the extent the solicitation of sodomy statute can be narrowly construed to only punish speech soliciting sodomy that is not protected by the Georgia Constitution's right to privacy, the solicitation of sodomy statute is constitutional. Watson v. State, 293 Ga. 817, 750 S.E.2d 143 (2013).

Instructions did not cause prejudicial error.

- Trial court's jury charge on defendant's charges of enticing a child for indecent purposes and solicitation of sodomy for money with a child under 17, in violation of O.C.G.A. §§ 16-6-5 and16-6-15, respectively, was not prejudicial to defendant, although the indictment against defendant charged defendant with committing acts in the conjunctive and the jury instructions allowed the jury to convict defendant for committing any of the acts, which were stated in the disjunctive, as proof that the crimes were committed in any of the separate ways or methods alleged in the indictment was sufficient to sustain the convictions. Carolina v. State, 276 Ga. App. 298, 623 S.E.2d 151 (2005).

Language used to support conviction.

- Term "blow job" is not too vague and lacking in definition to support a conviction of soliciting for sodomy. Anderson v. State, 142 Ga. App. 282, 235 S.E.2d 675 (1977).

Evidence sufficient for conviction.

- Defendant's convictions for enticing a child for indecent purposes and solicitation of sodomy for money with a child under 17, in violation of O.C.G.A. §§ 16-6-5 and16-6-15, respectively, were supported by the evidence, as the defendant invited two young victims to defendant's home, had one of the victims watch a pornographic videotape and propositioned both of the victims by discussing their sexual history and sexual acts; it was clear that the element of asportation was satisfied when defendant invited the victims to defendant's home in order to entice the victims to engage in sexual acts. Carolina v. State, 276 Ga. App. 298, 623 S.E.2d 151 (2005).

Victim's testimony was sufficient to sustain the defendant's conviction for solicitation of sodomy in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-6-15(a) because the victim testified that the defendant offered to give the victim money for oral sex. Davenport v. State, 316 Ga. App. 234, 729 S.E.2d 442 (2012).

Evidence that the victim approached the defendant with an offer regarding oral sex on two occasions, following the defendant's earlier offer to pay the victim if the victim would allow the defendant to perform oral sex on the victim, and that the victim was 14 years old at the time the enticement occurred was sufficient to support the defendant's convictions for enticing a child for indecent purposes and solicitation of sodomy. Tezeno v. State, 343 Ga. App. 623, 808 S.E.2d 64 (2017).

Evidence insufficient for conviction.

- Although the defendant clearly invited the 17-year-old boy to engage in sexual acts falling within the express language of the sodomy statute, the evidence was insufficient to convict the defendant of solicitation of sodomy as the defendant never suggested that any encounter occur in a public place; the mere fact that the defendant was a public officer, specifically a police officer, did not render public the defendant's offer to engage in sex in a private residence; no money or anything of commercial value would be exchanged; the defendant's conduct did not rise to the level of intimidation or coercion that would give rise to a finding of sexual contact by force; and both parties were legally capable of consenting to sexual contact. Watson v. State, 293 Ga. 817, 750 S.E.2d 143 (2013).

Cited in Byous v. State, 121 Ga. App. 654, 175 S.E.2d 106 (1970); Fluker v. State, 248 Ga. 290, 282 S.E.2d 112 (1981); McGee v. State, 165 Ga. App. 423, 299 S.E.2d 573 (1983); Allen v. State, 170 Ga. App. 96, 316 S.E.2d 500 (1984); Verble v. State, 172 Ga. App. 321, 323 S.E.2d 239 (1984); Bostic v. State, 184 Ga. App. 509, 361 S.E.2d 872 (1987); In re Jackel, 275 Ga. 568, 569 S.E.2d 835 (2002).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 70C Am. Jur. 2d, Sodomy, § 36.

C.J.S.

- 81A C.J.S., Sodomy, § 2.

ALR.

- Validity and construction of statute or ordinance proscribing solicitation for purposes of prostitution, lewdness, or assignation - modern cases, 77 A.L.R.3d 519.

What constitutes such discriminatory prosecution or enforcement of laws as to provide valid defense in state criminal proceedings, 95 A.L.R.3d 280.

Validity of statute making sodomy a criminal offense, 20 A.L.R.4th 1009.

Cases Citing O.C.G.A. § 16-6-15

Total Results: 6  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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Powell v. State, 510 S.E.2d 18 (Ga. 1998).

Cited 106 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Nov 23, 1998 | 270 Ga. 327, 98 Fulton County D. Rep. 4177

...xual assault of prisoners, the institutionalized, and the patients of psychotherapists); § 16-6-6 (bestiality); § 16-6-7 (sexual assault of a dead human being); § 16-6-8 (public indecency); §§ 16-6-9—16-6-12 (prostitution, pimping, pandering); § 16-6-15 (solicitation of sodomy); § 16-6-16 (masturbation for hire); § 16-6-22 (incest); §§ 16-6-22.1 and 16-6-22.2 (sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery), and by the vigorous enforcement of those laws through the arrest and prosecution of offenders....
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Harris v. State, 314 Ga. 238 (Ga. 2022).

Cited 37 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Jun 22, 2022

...B. during closing argument, saying that Appellant “was messaging with what turned out to be a 15-year-old girl. Something we didn’t find out about until after indictment.”69 involves the conduct of a person under the age of 18 years”); 16-6-15 (b) (“A person convicted of solicitation of sodomy when such offense involves the solicitation of a person or persons under the age of 18 years to perform or submit to an act of sodomy for money shall be guilty of a felony ....
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Howard v. State, 527 S.E.2d 194 (Ga. 2000).

Cited 18 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Feb 28, 2000 | 272 Ga. 242, 2000 Fulton County D. Rep. 691

...ct which can be said to take place in private, between consenting adults: e.g., sexual contact with prisoners, the institutionalized, and the patients of psychotherapists (OCGA § 16-6-5.1); incest (OCGA § 16-6-22); and solicitation of sodomy (OCGA § 16-6-15)....
...festly infringed upon the privacy rights of Georgia's citizens. [6] Accordingly, Georgia's sodomy statute was struck down in that case. However, Powell did not have cause to address the separate statute criminalizing the solicitation of sodomy, OCGA § 16-6-15(a)....
...dering it unconstitutionally vague. Finally, if the solicitation of sodomy statute is struck down, it will not hamper the State's ability to prosecute individuals such as the appellant in this case. For all of these reasons, I would strike down OCGA § 16-6-15(a) and reverse that portion of appellant's conviction. NOTES [1] 270 Ga. 327, 510 S.E.2d 18 (1998). [2] OCGA § 16-6-2. [3] OCGA § 16-6-15....
...524, 70 L.Ed.2d 393 (1981), overruled on other grounds, 264 Ga. 323, 443 S.E.2d 839 (1994); State v. Davis, 246 Ga. 761, 762, 272 S.E.2d 721 (1980). [8] Cunningham v. State, 260 Ga. 827, 831, 400 S.E.2d 916 (1991). [9] Id. [10] (Citation omitted.) Id. [11] OCGA §§ 16-6-2, 16-6-15(a)....
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Christensen v. State, 468 S.E.2d 188 (Ga. 1996).

Cited 16 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Mar 11, 1996 | 266 Ga. 474, 96 Fulton County D. Rep. 884

...Garrett, Kirwan, Parks, Chesin & Remar, P.C., Milner S. Ball, Athens, Amici Curiae. Harry H. Harkins, Jr., Jane Morrison, Beatrice Dohrn and Evan Wolfson, Atlanta, Amicus Appellant. THOMPSON, Justice. L. Chris Christensen was convicted by a jury of solicitation of sodomy, OCGA § 16-6-15(a), [1] a misdemeanor, and he was sentenced to probation for a term of 12 months. He challenges the constitutionality of OCGA § 16-6-15(a), on grounds that it violates his right to privacy and to free speech under the Constitution of the State of Georgia....
...arged offense. 1. The evidence was sufficient to support the conviction under the standard of Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). [2] 2. Defendant asserts that the statute prohibiting solicitation of sodomy, OCGA § 16-6-15(a), and the sodomy statute which is its essential component, OCGA § 16-6-2, infringe upon the privacy rights and free expression rights of adult citizens to the extent that they criminalize discussions about engaging in private, consensual, non-commercial sodomy....
...event." Davis, supra at 762, 272 S.E.2d 721. Reasonable prohibitions against soliciting unlawful acts do not violate free speech rights. Because First Amendment protection does not extend to statements made in the solicitation of criminal acts, OCGA § 16-6-15(a) does not reach protected speech....
...Whatever the extent of the privacy rights under the Georgia constitution of consenting adults in their homes, these rights do not protect solicitation of explicit sexual acts from total strangers in public rest areas. For this reason, I concur in the affirmance of Christensen's conviction under O.C.G.A. § 16-6-15(a)....
...stated he was interested in engaging in oral sex. The officer suggested that the two men go to a nearby motel, where he had a room. When Christensen drove past the motel, he was arrested and charged with solicitation of sodomy, in violation of OCGA § 16-6-15(a)....
...Nonetheless, it simply is not criminal to solicit that which is not illegal. If the underlying sodomy statute set forth in OCGA § 16-6-2 is unconstitutional, rendering the criminal prohibition against sodomy invalid, then the solicitation of sodomy statute found in OCGA § 16-6-15(a) likewise is invalid....
...sensual sex, which are ignored and ridiculed by the populace, and which are enforced with discriminatory selectivity, can only breed contempt and foster disdain and disrespect for the law, the State, and the law enforcement community. NOTES [1] OCGA § 16-6-15(a) provides: "A person commits the offense of solicitation of sodomy when he solicits another to perform or submit to an act of sodomy....
...524, 70 L.Ed.2d 393 (1981), overruled on other grounds, Rower v. State, 264 Ga. 323, 443 S.E.2d 839 (1994); State v. Davis, 246 Ga. 761, 762, 272 S.E.2d 721 (1980). [34] Cunningham, 260 Ga. at 831, 400 S.E.2d 916. [35] Id. [36] Id. (citation omitted). [37] Id. [38] OCGA §§ 16-6-2, 16-6-15(a)....
...United States, 249 U.S. 47, 52, 39 S.Ct. 247, 249, 63 L.Ed. 470 (1919); see also L. Tribe, American Constitutional Law, § 12-9 at 848-49 (2nd ed. 1988). [1] A ruling that the sodomy statute, OCGA § 16-6-2, is unconstitutional necessarily means that OCGA § 16-6-15(a), which criminalizes the solicitation of sodomy, is likewise invalid....
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In Re Jackel, 569 S.E.2d 835 (Ga. 2002).

Cited 9 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Sep 16, 2002 | 275 Ga. 568, 2002 Fulton County D. Rep. 2644

...Pursuant to Bar Rule 4-106(e), upon the special master's filing of a recommendation with this Court, this Court is empowered to order such discipline as deemed appropriate. Jackel pled guilty in 2001 to one count each of sexual battery, OCGA § 16-6-22.1, and solicitation of sodomy, OCGA § 16-6-15....
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Watson v. State, 293 Ga. 817 (Ga. 2013).

Cited 7 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Oct 21, 2013 | 750 S.E.2d 143, 2013 Fulton County D. Rep. 3243

HUNSTEIN, Justice. In this criminal appeal, Appellant James Watson challenges the constitutionality of Georgia’s solicitation of sodomy statute, OCGA § 16-6-15....
...The phone calls were recorded and played for the jury at trial. 1. The solicitation of sodomy statute provides: “[a] person commits the offense of solicitation of sodomy when he solicits another to perform or submit to an act of sodomy.” OCGA § 16-6-15 (a)....
...s of the other and (3) such sexual act is to be performed (a) in public; (b) in exchange for money or anything of commercial value; (c) by force; or (d) by or with an individual who is incapable of giving legal consent to sexual activity. See OCGA §§ 16-6-15 (a), 16-6-2 (a) (1); Howard, 272 Ga....
...er, a police officer of the Nashville, Georgia Police Department, willfully and intentionally violate the terms of his sworn oath to comply with the laws of the State of Georgia by soliciting sodomy in violation of Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section 16-6-15 (a), when he offered to engage in oral sex and anal sex with Chase Browning, contrary to the laws of said State, the good order, peace and dignity thereof. (Emphasis supplied.) Count 3 of the indictment, which charges Watson with comm...
...dentical language in describing the manner in which Browning violated his oath: “willfully and intentionally violate [d] the terms of his sworn oath to comply with the laws of the State of Georgia by soliciting sodomy in *823violation of [OCGA §] 16-6-15 (a).” Given our conclusion in Division 2 that Watson did not in fact commit the offense of solicitation of sodomy, the basis upon which Counts 1 and 3 are premised is now nonexistent. Decided October 21, 2013. Wilmot & Powell, Robert C....