House Republican Press Release

 

 

 

June 2, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

 

Rep. Anne Ruwet votes to toughen penalties for sex offenders

 

State Rep. Anne Ruwet (R-Torrington) today voted in favor of Jessica’s Law,  a measure that will help protect our children by increasing penalties on perpetrators of sex crimes.

Rep. Ruwet, the ranking member on the legislature’s Select Committee on Children, said that protecting our children is paramount and a fundamental responsibility of our community, and Jessica’s law will help accomplish that goal.

“Passing Jessica’s Law is among the most important accomplishments of this body in my time in the legislature,” said Rep. Ruwet. “This bill will help keep our children protected, and at the same time, will assure that those who commit these horrible crimes pay the appropriate price for their actions. I am hopeful the Governor will sign this bill into law soon.”

The bill creates an offense that will be known as aggravated sexual assault of a minor. This charge will apply when any victim under the age of 13 is kidnapped, restrained, stalked, or suffers physical injury. Anyone convicted of this charge faces a 25-year mandatory minimum sentence. Second-time offenders will face a mandatory 50-year sentence.

Other highlights of the bill:

 - Statutory rape, the difference in age is increased from 2 to 3 years when victim is under 16 and the actor is more than 3 years older.

 

 - Sexual Assault in the fourth degree is now when the victim is under 13 years of age (was 15) and the actor is more than 2 years older or when the victim is 13 and the actor is more than 3 years older.

 

 - Injury or risk of injury to or impairing the morals of children, specifically contact with intimate parts would now be a 5-year mandatory minimum if victim is under 13.

 

- Penalty for enticing a minor under 13 is made stronger.  First offense is a 5-year mandatory minimum, 2nd offense is 10 year mandatory minimum.

 

 - Possessing 50 or more visual depictions of child pornography is a 5-year mandatory minimum.

 

 - Allows statements from minors under 13 to be permissible in court, provided certain protections for the defendant.