A Rome attorney, who spoke on terms of anonymity, says a decision Monday from the Georgia Supreme Court creates an open season in 16 year old girls in high school.  The court ruled in an Augusta area case that consent of the victim was a defense to the crime of sexual assault of a person enrolled in school. 

Floyd District Attorney Leigh Patterson said “it’s absolutely something that we’re going to have to consider” in two local cases.   In the Augusta case, the student attempted to testify that she had initiated contact with the teacher but the trial court prohibited the defendant teacher from using consent as a defense to engaging in a sexual relationship with the 16 year old student.  Two teachers at Model, Daniel Brown and Matthew Blanton were released and face charges of sexual battery after engaging in relationships with female students at Model High last year.  The consent issue could become an issue in both cases WRGA