Push for harsher penalties for older teenagers soliciting intercourse rejected – NBC Los Angeles

California Democrats rejected on Thursday a Republican-backed effort to advance a coverage to extend penalties for soliciting and shopping for intercourse from 16- and 17-year-olds, a problem that’s precipitated friction amongst Democrats and prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to weigh in.

Republicans argued for the coverage on the ground after a legislative committee eliminated it from a invoice earlier this week.

“It’s a easy factor earlier than us: Do 16- and 17-year-olds deserve the identical safety as all different minors relating to youngster prostitution?” Republican minority chief James Gallagher stated earlier than the vote, including, “This physique wants an ethical compass.”

The transfer was supported by a number of reasonable Democrats, who stated shopping for intercourse from older teenagers ought to be a felony. Meeting Speaker Robert Rivas stated in a press release after the vote that California already has a number of the strongest legal guidelines towards trafficking and that lawmakers are dedicated in defending youngsters. Democrats backed an modification saying they plan to “undertake the strongest legal guidelines to guard 16- and 17-year-old victims.”

“Defending youngsters, standing up for trafficking victims and stopping crimes are amongst my high priorities as Speaker,” Rivas stated.

It’s the most recent instance of the cut up amongst Democrats over how finest to crack down on crime and punish criminals. Some reasonable Democrats need to see harsher punishments to guard extra youngsters, whereas others say the measure may very well be misused by mother and father upset about interracial or LGBTQ+ relationships to focus on older teenagers concerned within the relationship. Newsom usually declines to weigh in on pending laws however has stepped in through the years to advance youngster trafficking measures.

“The legislation ought to deal with all intercourse predators who solicit minors the identical — as a felony, whatever the supposed sufferer’s age. Full cease,” his workplace stated in a press release.

Assemblymember Maggy Krell, a Democrat with a prosecutorial background, wished to broaden a legislation Newsom signed final yr to make it an automated felony for individuals who solicit and purchase older youngsters for intercourse, amongst different issues. The present legislation, which makes it a felony if the victims had been beneath 16, doesn’t go far sufficient and leaves a loophole for older teenagers, supporters of the measure stated.

Democrats within the Meeting’s public security committee this week stated they want extra time to review the difficulty. They superior Krell’s invoice this week with out the supply for older teenagers. On Thursday, they eliminated her identify from the laws.

“I don’t care whether or not my identify is on the invoice, however I’m joyful to assist it if it consists of the safety for 16- and 17-year-olds,” Krell stated earlier than the vote. Krell was amongst a small group of Democrats who sided with Republicans.

Democrats within the Senate final yr rejected the same effort to extend penalties for soliciting older teenagers.

Republicans are seizing the second to rail on Democrats’ agenda, accusing them of defending predators and being out of contact with voters.

“The message despatched in the present day with the vote is it’s open season on 16- and 17-year-old minors within the state of California for intercourse traffickers,” Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio stated after the vote.

First Companion Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and Christine Pelosi, former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s daughter, have taken to social media in assist of the proposal.

“As a mother of a 16-year-old youngster, I 100% imagine it ought to be a felony to buy one,” Christine Pelosi stated in a put up on the social platform X directed at Democratic lawmakers. “In what world do you assume voters will belief a celebration that considers shopping for a 16-year-old to be ‘solely’ a misdemeanor?”

Meeting public security chair Nick Schultz stated that it’s already a felony in California to contact a minor for intercourse. The proposal would have added one other software for legislation enforcement to reinforce sentences.

Schultz stated he’s now planning to deliver the measure again after lawmakers have an opportunity for extra dialogue within the coming weeks.

“We can have an answer,” Schultz stated. “That’s my dedication.”