ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Genarlow Wilson was released from prison Friday, after spending more than two years behind bars for a teen sex conviction.
"At times I dealt with adversity ... my family and myself, we finally get to deal with happiness now," Wilson said, with his mother and sister at his side.
The Georgia Supreme Court earlier Friday ordered that he be released, ruling 4-3 that his sentence was cruel and unusual punishment.
Wilson, 21, was convicted in 2005 of having oral sex with a consenting 15-year-old girl when he was 17.
Wilson said he first heard about the possibility he'd be freed Friday when someone told him word was out on the radio.
"I'd seen it coming, but I didn't exactly know when," he said. "I'd just stopped trying to figure the courts out and stopped trying to put a date on it."
Wilson said he was looking forward to spending time with his family and plans to enroll in college to study sociology.
"You will not be disappointed," he told his supporters. "I plan on succeeding in life."
Wilson also said he doesn't regret rejecting a plea offer that could have freed him from prison months ago -- but would have required him to register as a sex offender.
"I'm glad I stayed down for my cause," he said. "I accepted the situation that I got myself into, but I never accepted that label."
At the time of Wilson's conviction, Georgia law made the crime punishable by 10 years in prison. Changes in the law made such conduct "punishable by no more than a year in prison and no sex offender registration," the Georgia high court noted.
Here are alcohol consequences in teenagers. I hope he could learn about his experience, to make a good and healthy live now that his is not in prison. I don’t like those people whoa are complaining about everything… (athpugh many times I am one o them)… complaining about what live has forbidden to give them, about how hard are things for them, and forgetting all what live has give them, all the opportunities they have that many other people would need or want. However, its our decision: to see falls as a trap that live has planned you to fail, or as opportunities to learn, grow, and do things better. I wish Wilson could mature during this period he was on prison, and he wont act as most of the guys of his age, seeing everything as lazy obstacles. What really surprised me, was his attitude, that instead of thanking laws and the Court, he just complaint about his situation still now. Oh my God! What’s wrong with the youth of these days???
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