A young man sentenced to 10 years in prison for having consensual oral sex with another teenager was freed Friday by Georgia's highest court, which ruled that his sentence amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.
Genarlow Wilson shared big smiles upon his release from prison with his mother, Juannessa Bennett, his 9-year-old sister Jaiya and his attorney, B.J. Bernstein. The prison is located about 65 miles southeast of Atlanta.
"I was in total disbelief," the 21-year-old told reporters outside the prison. "I'm finally happy to see we've got justice now."
State Attorney General Thurbert Baker said he does not plan to appeal Friday's ruling. Baker said he hopes the ruling will "put an end to this issue as a matter of contention in the hearts and minds of concerned Georgians and others across the country who have taken such a strong interest in this case."
In its 4-3 decision, the Georgia Supreme Court noted that state lawmakers later scrapped the law that required a minimum 10-year prison term.
That change, the court said, represented "a seismic shift in the legislature's view of the gravity of oral sex between two willing teenage participants."
The justices also said Wilson's sentence made "no measurable contribution to acceptable goals of punishment," and his crime did not rise to the "level of adults who prey on children."
Wilson was convicted of aggravated child molestation following a 2003 New Year's Eve party in a hotel room where he was videotaped having oral sex with a 15-year-old girl.
Wilson, who was 17 at the time, was acquitted of raping a 17-year-old girl at the party.
Wilson's case led to protests of heavy-handed justice. His supporters said race was one reason he received such a severe sentence, noting that he and the girl - both black - were only two years apart.
Wilson said he plans to continue school, where he would like to resume participation in sports and become a sociology major.
He said he also wants to help other teens, offering this initial advice: "They should be very hesitant before they join certain crowds and make certain decisions."
The young man said he plans to spend time with his family.
"I feel I've been away from them long enough," he said. "At times, we've dealt with adversity. Now my family, we finally get to deal with happiness."