
Woman, 37, Charged With Sex Crimes Against Husband, 15
GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- A 37-year-old woman charged with child molestation after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy whom she married last week is scheduled to be in court later this month.
The Times of Gainesville quotes unidentified members of the boy's family as saying that Lynnette Clark is pregnant with the boy's child and that they were married Tuesday. The boy's grandmother -- Judy Hayles -- said she received a notice of the marriage from Dawson County because she is the boy's guardian.
Clark was arrested Wednesday and taken to the Hall County Detention Center. The Hall County Sheriff's Office did not immediately return phone calls today seeking further detail.
District Attorney Lee Darragh said the Georgia law on child molestation -- which said that a person under age 16 legally cannot consent to a sexual act -- does not take into consideration whether the minor is married.
Darragh said Clark will appear in court for a committal hearing on Nov. 30.
Georgia law provides an exemption to age requirements for marriage if the couple has a child or the female can show she is pregnant. In Georgia, one must be 18 to marry without parental consent or 16 to marry with parental consent.
Hayles said the relationship had been going on for nearly two years. She said her grandson and Clark's teenage son had been close friends and that the grandson spent many weekends at Clark's home.
Now Hayles said she is working to end the marriage.