Increased Penalties for Soliciting a Minor (Audio)
Air Date:03/02/2010
By Jenifer Jones
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that increases the penalty for soliciting a minor. The violation is currently a class six felony, which carries a maximum sentence of two years. House Bill 1244 increases solicitation of a minor to a class four felony which allows for a maximum of ten years in prison. Susan Randall with South Dakota Voices for Children spoke in favor of the bill.
"The class four felony I might remind gives the judge the authority to go to much greater consequences but also gives permission to the judge to do what he thinks is appropriate in the case," Randall says. "And we know that there are some serious matters that need to be addressed."
The bill passed the committee seven to zero and next goes to the Senate floor.
Member stations can download the audio file here.
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