“Passing this legislation is the most important thing the General Assembly can do this year to protect Connecticut’s children from sexual predators by keeping the worse of these criminals off of our streets for a very long time. I am optimistic that the House of Representatives will follow our example and pass this bill before the legislative session ends on June 6th,” said Senator Freedman.

Senator Freedman said that SB 1458, An Act Concerning Jessica’s Law, creates a new crime of aggravated assault of a minor younger than 13. This new charge can be triggered under certain circumstances, such as if there was more than one child victim, if the child victim was kidnapped or stalked, if violence was used, if serious physical injury or disfigurement resulted, if the victim was unknown to the attacker, or if the perpetrator has prior arrests for violent sexual assault. Conviction for a first offense of this new crime carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 25 years, while a subsequent conviction calls for imposing a mandatory minimum sentence of 50 years.

Also, the legislation calls for imposing five and 10 year-mandatory minimum sentences on those convicted of using the internet to entice a child younger than 12 into sexual contact. Also, the bill creates mandatory sentences for several child pornography crimes, including possession or the use of child in an obscene performance.

“That children are ever subjected to such horror is a tragedy. On behalf of Connecticut’s responsible, law abiding, caring adults, I am relieved that we are doing something meaningful this year to protect them,” said Senator Freedman.