Calif. Lawmakers Restore Felony Charges In Bill On Soliciting Sex From Minors

California Democrats reversed people connected a measure and amended it to erstwhile again let felony charges against adults who solicit activity from minors who are 16 and 17 years of age. The Assembly Appropriations Committee connected Wednesday, May 7, unanimously passed AB 379, a measure targeting buyers successful kid activity trafficking.

The authorities would criminalize loitering pinch nan intent to bargain activity from teens and create a money for trafficking victims.

“For big offenders astatine slightest 3 years older than nan minor, prosecutors will person caller devices to bring felony charges,” Assembly Public Safety Committee chair Nick Schultz said successful a statement. “When nan big offender is wrong 3 years of property of nan minor, inducement remains forbidden and a misdemeanor.”

Initial guidance from lawmakers

Last week, Straight Arrow News reported connected authorities lawmakers successful nan Assembly Public Safety Committee who blocked nan effort to make soliciting 16-and 17-year-olds for activity a felony. In nan Golden State, it’s already a felony crime to bargain aliases effort to bargain activity from children aged 15 and younger.

Critics of nan authorities told VanGuard News Group that nan measure could unfairly target definite individuals by making “loitering” a crime again, arguing that group simply driving aliases stepping successful definite neighborhoods mightiness beryllium arrested if constabulary construe their beingness arsenic loitering.

Debate highlights divergent views

“Sending an 18-year-old precocious schoolhouse elder to authorities situation for offering his 17-year-old classmate $20 to fool astir isn’t smart criminal justness policy,” state Sen. Scott Wiener posted connected Bluesky. “Yet that’s what immoderate group are efficaciously advocating successful this misleading debate.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said successful a connection that “the rule should dainty each activity predators who solicit minors nan aforesaid — arsenic a felony, sloppy of nan intended victim’s age. Full stop.”

Democratic divide

Despite contention surrounding nan bill, nan connection moved guardant sparking online onslaught ads from some parties and causing disagreement among Democrats astir whether group who bargain activity from teens should get tougher penalties, KCRA reported.

“Goal has ever been to hammer nan creeps who are buying teens for activity and create much support for victims,” nan bill’s co-author, Assemblymember Maggy Krell, wrote connected X. “New type accomplishes these goals, and makes it a felony for a grown man to bargain a kid for sex. I admit everyone’s activity connected this bill, particularly nan subsister conjugation for ne'er giving up.”

AB 379 still needs support from nan afloat Assembly and Senate. A afloat ballot successful nan Assembly is expected adjacent week.