Child Molesters Would Face Death Under New Bill

[arminnie]

Just saw this in a news update email.

WASHINGTON -- Convicted child molesters would face harsher penalties under a bill approved by the Senate.

They could face execution for killing their victims and a felony charge for failing to update their whereabouts with authorities.

The bill also aims to help police find more than 100,000 such sex offenders by creating an Internet-posted national database. It also increases minimum sentences for those who travel between states.

The bipartisan bill is named for Adam Walsh, the murdered 6-year old son of "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh. July 27 is the 25th anniversary of the abduction of Adam and his subsequent murder.

The House is to consider the measure next week.

 

[4cruisin]

It will never pass though.

 

[kelleigh1]

Last night we were watching CSI and one of the cases they were working ended up being a father who was molesting his 12-year-old daughter. He kept asking his lawyer to help him out and he kept saying "I can't." That's when they pointed out to him that Nevada law is a mandatory life sentence for sexual assault on a minor 14 or under. I clapped.

I don't know if that's really the law, but I told my husband that it should be the law in the entire country.

 

[CathrynRose]

Fabulous.

 

[lindakmonty]

That just made my day!!!

 

[Kim&Chris]

I'm praying this passes.

John Walsh is a modern day saint.

 

[Tinkerbell_Girl]

Good. I hope it passes.

 

[Froggyswife]

YES! I hope it passes.

 

[wvrevy]

As much as I'm typically against the death penalty, I have to say that I have very little problem with this. I think they should include a provision that the evidence must be overwhelming before a death sentence could be pronounced - my biggest problem with the death penalty is the possibility of killing innocent people - but, other than that, I would have no objections. Anyone that would hurt a kid is not worthy of breathing the same air that other people do.

 

[Suzyq9241]

My neice who has CP was touched by her step dad...


How sick that man is.....

If I had a .....

Oh I wish oh I wish....

 

[Squirlz]

Murderers already face execution in many states....what is this bill changing?

 

[Cool-Beans]

I don't get it. Did they get life in prison for murdering children before this? Or are they just changing their record-keeping?

 

[BeckyEsq]

I doubt this would withstand Constitutional challenges. Back in around the 1970's the Supreme Court issued a ruling that required every state to re-write their death penalty statutes. It said you could no longer have a death penalty for rape. I am greatly summarizing here, but it is basically an eye for an eye, a life for a life. I think in order to withstand constitutional scrutiny there must be not only a murder, but also aggravating circumstances.

ETA: I was reading too fast, I see that this statute is for molesters who also killed their victims. I would guess that the statute basically makes the molestation, or failure to update their whereabouts, qualify as aggravating circumstances.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I'm praying this passes.

John Walsh is a modern day saint.

Perfectly stated

 

[Bob Slydell]

Murderers already face execution in many states....what is this bill changing?

That's what I was wondering. Murder is murder and first degree murder carries a possible death penalty (depending on the state) regardless of the victim.

 

[arminnie]

As much as I'm typically against the death penalty, I have to say that I have very little problem with this. I think they should include a provision that the evidence must be overwhelming before a death sentence could be pronounced - my biggest problem with the death penalty is the possibility of killing innocent people - but, other than that, I would have no objections. Anyone that would hurt a kid is not worthy of breathing the same air that other people do.

I totally agree with you here. I'm not in favor of just nuking people right and left.

In some states only "capital" murders are eligible for the death penalty - some examples are killing a police officer, killing someone while committing another serious crime, etc so that's probably what this is about.

The biggest problem with true pedophiles is that most research shows that they can never be cured. If that's the case then I have no problem with removing a threat to children permanently.

 

[BeckyEsq]

That's what I was wondering. Murder is murder and first degree murder carries a possible death penalty (depending on the state) regardless of the victim.

It has been several years since I researched this (back in law school) but if I am remembering correctly, most state laws require first degree murder PLUS aggravating circumstances (such as torture, murder committed in the course of committing a felony, etc). And I believe this is because of a Supreme Court decision in the 1970's that laid out what it felt was constitutional as far as death penalty statutes.

 

[lisajl]

This guy def. deserves the death penalty!

Toddler Dies; Man Charged With Rape
Police: Additional Charges Possible

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A man was charged with raping a 17-month-old boy who later died Tuesday night.

John White, 35, of 1289 xxxxxxx Road, was charged with one count of raping a child under 13, a first-degree felony, according to police.

Upper Arlington medics received a call at about 7:40 p.m. about a child not breathing at the Weybridge Road apartment, located near Henderson and Kenny roads.

The child, Jaydon Hilleary, was transported to Children's Hospital and was pronounced dead at 8:19 p.m., NBC 4's Kyle Anderson reported.

"There were signs of a sexual assault that also took place," said Columbus police Sgt. Mike Woods. "We brought detectives in immediately and began an investigation from that."

A relative of the boy's mother told NBC 4 that the mother was sleeping while White allegedly raped the child.

White and the victim's mother worked overnight at a Wal-Mart on the city's west side. They would take turns sleeping while the other watched the child.

The victim's mother said White woke her up by saying he was sorry.

"He told me he fell asleep on the couch with Jaydon and he woke up and Jaydon was not breathing and his head was pushed down in the cushions," Billie Hilleary said.

According to a search warrant, White told police that when he woke up from a nap, the boy's head had either become stuck or wedged underneath a pillow on the couch.

The boy suffocated because his face was being held against a pillow, the relative said.

"Jaydon's down there limp (with) his eyes rolled back in his head, not breathing. And the ambulance comes and they're trying to do CPR on him and it's not working," Billie Hilleary said.

White was taken into custody at the hospital and was questioned before police filed the rape charge, Anderson reported.

"They told me that they suspected someone was sexually molesting him and they left the room, did more questioning with John, and then before they left, they came in and told me he admitted to what he did," Billie Hilleary said. "It's painful. I wish I would have died instead of him. I really wish it were me instead. He didn't get to live his life."

Police said more charges might be forthcoming pending their investigation and an autopsy.

"We're just waiting for that information to see how we could progress," Woods said.

Officials said that DNA was collected from White along with fingernail scrapings.

Hilleary's father lives in the Newark area, Anderson reported.

White has not been charged with murder.

"I want him to get the death penalty for what he did," Billie Hilleary said.


They reported yesterday that this idiot was attacked in jail...geesh..really...? that's too bad!

 

[drakethib]

Hope it goes through.

 

[DisMN]

My neice who has CP was touched by her step dad...


How sick that man is.....

If I had a .....

Oh I wish oh I wish....

I have a serious problem with this in that I think people are thinking this is intended for pedophiles. The bill is talking about someone who has MURDERED a child.
I'm fine with the death penalty for murderers.
I'm not fine with the death penalty for molesters.



.