Travis Pennington, the 19-year-old son of Dirt Racing Hall of Fame member Jack Pennington, of Douglasvillle, GA, was convicted of Statutory Rape in Douglas County Superior Court Mar. 11, and sentenced to 10 years in prison by Judge David T. Emerson.
According to a the District Attorney, about three years ago a 12-year-old girl reported the crime, and gave a video-taped statement. The DA said the victim’s family and the defendant’s family were friends and it was not uncommon for the victim to be at the defendant’s home.
She became a frequent visitor after Travis (age 16 at the time) and his racing success was profiled in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
An investigator for the Sheriff’s Office interviewed, videotaped, and arrested Pennington, after picking him up at his high school and questioning him with no parents present. The investigator waited until after Travis had turned 17, so parental notification wasn’t required. Travis admitted there was oral sex.
The girl’s video says she “came on” to him but there was no actual intercourse.
In Georgia, it is considered statutory rape to have sexual intercourse with any person under 16 years of age. It does not matter if you are unaware of the victim’s age, or if the sex is consensual.
The girl’s mother filed a civil suit against the Penningtons, and sought cash, before the Sheriff’s Office was involved. Jack Pennington’s insurance settled the suit, paying $15,000.
The Pennington family, including the divorced mother Sharon, of Cherokee County, have announced an appeal, and sent an open letter:
The Pennington Family would like to thank you for all the phone calls, e-mails, messages, prayers, and support. We can’t release any details as to how this situation escalated to this point, but as of now, the case is in appeal, but we can say that Travis did not rape, molest or harm anyone. He was 16 when these charges were finally brought against him. He was not allowed to go back to school during the investigation. I would like to say to any parents out there that have boys, you need to make them aware of the penalties and laws of teen sex, especially in their juvenile years, and to make sure of the intentions of new found acquaintances. This has been really hard on both families and we would ask that you would search your heart before you post negative things when you don’t have the facts. We need Character Witness Letters about Travis to assist in his appeal. If you would like to send one please send it to sharon01p@bellsouth.net. Georgia lawmakers are also being sought out & consulted. Also, if you would like to send him a letter or words of encouragement please send to same e-mail address and I will send it to him. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers so far. Our Faith will help us seek & find the truth for Travis.
The Pennington Family
Travis Pennington may be the best young dirt racer in Georgia, starting in Quarter Midgets, Bandelero Cars, and Legends Cars, and going to four-cylinder dirt cars when he was 12 years old. At age 15, he moved on to crate late models and eventually into Super Late Models – sometimes racing against his father.
In 2008, he took a $5000 to win Southern All Stars feature at Rome (GA) Speedway, becoming the youngest-ever winner in the Series’ 27-year history. At the 30th Annual Alabama State Championship in 2008, he set a new track record and became the youngest-ever Alabama State Champion, winning $7000. His final race was the Green Valley Speedway Bama Bash in February, where he missed the feature. Father Jack has been in a racing retirement mode in recent years, and says all he has left is a motor. Much was sold to fund legal fees.
The Penningtons, and lawyer David Wolfe, believe they have good grounds for an appeal. and hope that Travis’ school and behavior records, and other information which they hope to confirm and present on appeal, will reverse the outcome or reduce the sentence. They are now allowed twice-weekly visits at the jail, looking through a window.
A famous 2003 Douglas County teen sex case has been in the news in 2010, since Georgia State attorney general Thurbert Baker, who was involved in the case, is campaigning in the Democrat primary for governor. Some black voters have had problems with Baker, in part because of his 2007 decision to back prosecutors appealing a judge’s decision to release Genarlow Wilson, a black teen, from a 10-year prison term. Wilson had been sentenced for video-taped consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17. After two NY Times editorials (12-21-06, 4-30-67), and a letter from Jimmy Carter, Wilson was freed, as the State Supreme Court called the sentence “cruel and unusual” but many blacks viewed Baker’s action as supportive of an unfair legal system. The same DA prosecuted the Genarlow Wilson and Pennington cases.
The next step is a transfer to a state prison, perhaps in Jackson or Forsyth. Following the transfer, the family will have no visitation for six weeks.
This is surely only chapter one. We hope to see Travis Pennington back on the track – sooner or later.
Fans and friends may send cards and letters to:
Travis Pennington
Douglas County Jail
6840 W. Church St.
Douglasville, GA 30134
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Some useful information about the law for teens and parents:
J. Tom Morgan, former DA in DeKalb County, has a book and website http://www.ignoranceisnodefense.com/
“Through real-life examples, Ignorance is No Defense explains Georgia laws to teenagers in easy-to-understand language. With a primary focus on criminal laws, Ignorance is No Defense not only describes what the law requires but also teenagers’ rights under the law. Author J.Tom Morgan, a highly respected former prosecutor and experienced trial lawyer, provides straightforward information and valuable insights to help teenagers avoid violating the law and avoid being victims of crime.” Cost is $15.
http://www.copscomeknockin.com/
There are thousands of laws pertaining to the criminal justice system? These are laws that well-meaning people break on a daily basis without knowing it. Everyday, thousands of people are, unknowingly, gambling with the law and counting on luck that they won’t get caught on the wrong side of the law.
Where the legal system and criminal penalties are concerned, knowledge is the ultimate form of prevention. In fact, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound (or a lifetime) of correction.
Travis and Trinity Townsend are brothers, attorneys and authors of When The Cops Come Knockin’: An Illustrative Guide to Criminal Law. Before they earned the credentials to practice law, they (like many people) unknowingly gambled with decisions that could have landed them squarely on the wrong side of the law.
Travis and Trinity transitioned from the hood to the head of the class, from the ghetto to general counsel. Now, they’re using their legal expertise to educate youth and families—in urban, suburban and rural communities—through this innovative, youth-centered book.
Order the book at the above website for $19.95.
Article author Dale Terry is the editor of GeorgiaStockCarRacing.com and this article is published with his permission.
Webmaster note: This article is being published with the hope that some young people will read it and see that abstinence is the best solution against a potential problem like this.
I will check the book out..!thanks!