bobandcarole wrote:
> 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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