---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-12-100.5. Grooming of a minor for a sexual offense or trafficking for sexual servitude.
collection: code
id: 16-12-100.5
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-12-100.5 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12-100.5
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12-100.5.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12-100.5/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t16-ch12-17-(v14b)-2024-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=a591fa7b_0#page=140
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMES AND OFFENSES / OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORALS / OBSCENITY AND RELATED OFFENSES / OFFENSES RELATED TO MINORS GENERALLY
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-12-100.5. Grooming of a minor for a sexual offense or trafficking for sexual servitude.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) “Computer” has the same meaning as provided in Code Section 16-9-92.

(2) “Electronic device” has the same meaning as provided in Code Section 16-12-100.2.

(3) “Minor” means any person under the age of 18 years.

(4) “Pattern of conduct or communication” means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, however short, evidencing a continuity of purpose.

(5) “Sexual offense” has the same meaning as provided in Code Section 17-10-6.2.

(6) “Sexual servitude” has the same meaning as provided in Code Section 16-5-46.

(b) A person over the age of 18 and no less than 48 months older than the alleged victim commits the offense of grooming of a minor when such person knowingly and intentionally engages in a pattern of conduct or communication in person; through a third party; through the use of an electronic device, a computer, social media, or text messages; or by any other means to gain access to, to gain the compliance of, to prepare, to persuade, to induce, or to coerce a minor to engage in a sexual offense or trafficking of persons for sexual servitude.

(c) Any person who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a felony and punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years.

(d) It shall not be a defense to prosecution under this Code section that no sexual offense or trafficking of persons for sexual servitude was accomplished or attempted.

(e) A person shall be subject to prosecution in this state pursuant to Code Section 17-2-1 for any conduct made unlawful by this Code section which the person engages in while:

(1) Either within or outside of this state if such conduct involves a minor who resides in this state or another person believed by such person to be a minor residing in this state; or

(2) Within this state if such conduct involves a minor who resides within or outside this state or another person believed by such person to be a minor residing within or outside this state.

## History

Code 1981, § 16-12-100.5, enacted by Ga. L. 2024, p. 424, § 2/HB 993, effective July 1, 2024.

## Effective Date

This Code section became effective July 1, 2024.