Lunsford here to push pedophile law
By Kali Price
Staff Writer
If a law like Jessica's Law had been around last year, Mark Lunsford
believes his daughter might be alive.
Lunsford's 9-year-old daughter, Jessica, was kidnapped, raped and
murdered last year in Florida. The suspect, a known sexual offender, is
awaiting trial.
Lunsford, who has family in Springfield, came to the area to visit
relatives Thursday. He also spoke with Sen. Steve Austria about the
status of Ohio Senate Bill 260. Austria is representing the bill that
is modeled after Florida's Jessica's Law. The bill, that would
toughen the penalties for sexual offenders, passed in the Senate in
March and is now awaiting House approval, Austria said.
If passed, the law would give sexual offenders guilty of molestation of
children under 13 a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Ohio is one of 26 states that has passed or is working to pass a type
of Jessica's Law.
Austria said the House will begin hearings in the fall.
"One of the problems we're having now in this state is that some of
these criminals are getting off on very light sentences," he said.
Lunsford has also been watching the progress of suspect John Couey's
trial, which was delayed on July 13. Circuit Judge Ric Howard, Tavares,
Fla., stopped jury selection because he decided it was difficult to
find jurors who were unaware of recent media reports about the case.
"I think Judge Howard is just watching out for the best interest of
the trial," Lunsford said. "Their decisions are actually making it
harder for an appeal."
Howard also recently threw out a tape of Couey's confession as
evidence.
Lunsford said he is frustrated by the extra amount of time the process
is taking, but understands the need for the measures taken.
"I know that they can change the venue of the trial and they can give
him a good jury," he said, "but he's still going to die for what
he did."
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