bobandcarole wrote:
> 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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