Georgia sex offender challenges registry

1-12-2010 Georgia:

ATLANTA (AP) - A man convicted of aggravated child molestation is asking the Georgia Supreme Court to rule that requiring him to register as a sex offender after he serves his sentence violates his constitutional rights.

The court is scheduled on Tuesday to hear arguments from Jim Phillip Hollie. The 33-year-old was convicted of performing sexual acts on a 12-year-old and was sentenced to 25 years, with 15 in prison and 10 more on probation.

Hollie's attorneys argue that the trial court erred by making Hollie register as a sex offender as part of his probation. They contend such registration is a lifelong "punishment," stiffer than 30 years maximum penalty called for by law.

Prosecutors stand by the judge's ruling, saying that it's a harmless addition to Hollie's probation. ..Source.. WALB10News