House Republican Press Release

July 31, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. Noujaim: Bill Signing Ceremony for Jessica’s Law a Warning for Child Sex Predators

New Law Provides Mandatory Sentences for Sex Offenders who Target Children

Sex offenders who prey on children received a blunt warning from Governor M. Jodi Rell today: assault a child under 13 and you will spend a long time in jail, said state Representative Selim Noujaim, who cosponsored the new law.

“This new law puts sex offenders who target children on notice that the people of Connecticut will do everything we can to protect our children. It means offenders who sexually assault children are locked up for long periods of time to prevent them from repeating their crimes. Just as importantly, the stiff mandatory sentences this law provides will be a powerful deterrent that will lower the incidence of sex crimes against children in Connecticut,” said Representative Noujaim, R-Waterbury. “Governor Rell deserves a lot of credit for her efforts to publicize this new law to ensure that potential offenders understand that sex offenses committed against children will get zero tolerance in our state.”

The measure establishes the crime of aggravated sexual assault, which targets individuals who commit certain crimes against a child under age 13 and:

• kidnap, illegally restrain, stalk, disfigure, cause serious injury to, or use violence against the victim;
• commit the same offense against more than one victim under age 13;
• do not know the victim or have been previously convicted of a violent sexual assault.

Under the legislation, aggravated sexual assault of a minor is a Class A felony, punishable by 25 to 50 years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both. For first offenders, the mandatory minimum prison term is 25 years. For subsequent offenders, it is 50 years, Representative Noujaim said.

In addition, the law targets the increasing number of child sex crimes committed online by establishing mandatory minimum prison terms for adults who use the Internet to attempt to entice a child age 13 or under into sexual contact (five years for a first offense, 10 years for a second), Representative Noujaim said 

The law also provides mandatory minimum sentences for other offenses involving minors, including: having sexual or indecent contact with a child under age 13 (mandatory minimum term of 5 years); employing a minor in an obscene performance (mandatory minimum term of 10 years); importing child pornography (mandatory minimum term of 5 years); or possessing child pornography (mandatory minimum terms of 1 to 5 years), Representative Noujaim said.

The law took effect July 1^st.