Summary: An attorney, who has since been disbarred, in Georgia convicted of sexually molesting a child at his law office for six years was resentenced to a lower sentence.
A disbarred attorney in Georgia has been resentenced for child molestation. Former Savannah attorney Lawrence Edward Madison was sentenced in 2012 for child molestation of a female who worked in his law office. His new sentence has been set at 20 years, with 18 years to serve.
Chatham County Superior Court Judge James F. Bass Jr. noted a “severe break in trust” for Madison and his victim. He gave the maximum sentence for child molestation but later cut it down to comply with appellate rulings in such cases.
Madison’s attorney Tom Withers contended that his client had been offered a 15-year plea deal before going to trial. He argued that his client shouldn’t be punished for exercising his constitutional right to a trial. He wanted 15 years to be the top, asking the judge to give a 20-year sentence with 10 to serve. The remaining part of the sentence should be on probation plus credit for time served behind bars before the trial.
Assistant District Attorney Jenny Guyer noted that nobody had taken “responsibility for what he did to (the victim). …He’s never taken responsibility for it whatsoever. We’re asking that court to punish him for the crimes he committed.” The maximum penalty for child molestation is 20 years to serve. She added, “There’s no reason to drastically reduce that.” Guyer wanted a sentence of 19 years to serve with only one-year probation.
Madison was convicted in June of 2012 for child molestation and sexual battery of a female over a six-year period. The 2009 indictment stated that his abuse started in 2003 until 2009. The abuse took place in his law office at 321 Commercial Drive. The victim, who was 21 at the time of the trial, testified that she was 11 when he started abusing her and went until she turned 18.
Bass originally sentenced him to 25 years in prison without parole plus a lifetime of probation for aggravated sexual battery. He then added 20 more years onto the sentence for child molestation. Madison had been charged in 2009 of public indecency and was acquitted of child molestation in 2006.
An appeals court upheld Madison’s sentence for child molestation but reversed the sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery sentence given for when the victim was 18. This reversal was based on what the appellate court saw as an error in how the judge instructed the jury. Appellate rulings require a sentence split between prison and probation.
The victim, now 26, testified during the resentencing that “I’m the person this happened to. …It happened for a really, really long time. It’s not just the physical games he played with me. …He was manipulative. …He was a big part of my life.”
His siblings testified that Madison was not a threat to children. One sister said, “Lawrence is not a threat. Lawrence is good with children.” Another sister added, “What he did was illegal and wrong. I think it was a very unusual circumstance.” His brother noted, “It seems like he’s been in there a long time. He’s paid the price.”
Meanwhile, the state Supreme Court disbarred Madison from ever practicing law in the state again.
Do you think child molesters and abusers should be allowed to be free ever again? Tell us what you would like to see done with those convicted of sexually harming children in the comments below.
To learn more about sexual pedophiles, read these articles:
- Years of Sexual Abuse Uncovered at Choate Prep
- Los Angeles Teacher Accused of Sexual Relationship with Student at Elite Private School
- Entertainment Attorney Benjamin Adams’ Sexual Abuse Case Goes to Trial
Photo: savannahnow.com