Johnathan Terry, a 27-year-old Miami man, pleaded guilty in a Fulton County court to sex offenses involving a child. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. The victim was a 14-year-old Sandy Springs girl who met Terry at Underground Atlanta in December 2008. Terry was arrested on May 26, 2009.
Dear Editor:
The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office announced that Johnathan Terry, age 27 of Miami, has accepted a court plea agreement resulting in a 20-year sentence for pimping and pandering; statutory rape; child molestation; enticing a child for indecent purposes; and felony reckless conduct. In addition to his prison term, Terry must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
As campaign director for “A Future. Not A Past” (AFNAP) — the Juvenile Justice Fund’s campaign to stop the prostitution of children in Georgia — I and others strive daily to stop criminals from victimizing our children. In this case, we emphatically applaud the outcome. Not only did Johnathan Terry receive a deserved sentence for his crimes, but the girl at the center of the case — a mere 14 years old — will receive victim’s compensation, which provides her with rehabilitation services and ultimately, a future.
AFNAP thanks all judicial, law enforcement and social agencies involved in this case, as this outcome proves the system can bring true criminals to justice and create an environment that keeps witnesses — the child victims of sexual exploitation — involved so their abusers can be punished, and the victims can receive the services they need for recovery.
Kaffie McCullough