Lawmaker wants tougher penalties for sexual predators

A Kanawha County Delegate wants to see the Legislature go after sex offenders to the fullest extent of the law.

“In this state there are real, live monsters. They are monsters and they are predators.”

Democrat Mark Hunt introduced two bills this session that would take a tougher stance on pedophiles who approach children and try to harm them.

“Right now, if a monster approaches a child for sex, and that child, in some way refuses, that child is able to get away from that monster, the only thing that we can charge that person under our law is solicitation,” stressed Hunt.

That is a misdemeanor with a $50 fine. Hunt said the West Virginia Crimes Against Children Task Force knows how dangerous these criminals can be so they hand over their cases to the feds.

“Every time this offense happens,in West Virginia, this task force has to take this crime and this monster through the federal system,” explained Hunt.

That’s because the federal penalty for soliciting a child is a felony, with prison time. Hunt believes West Virginia’s law needs to be changed to make solicitation, of a child, a felony so that cases can go through the state court system.

He stressed to his fellow House members that, when it comes to children, the state must be able to protect them.

“Aren’t our children worth this? Aren’t our children worth providing a felony offense for people that would take them, rape them and kill them?”

Hunt tried last year to get similar legislation moving through the House but it was left languishing. He said this session the Legislature must move on it.