"Even Failed Attemtps at Online Enticement Should Be Felonies"

None by KCPW

State Lawmaker Wants Utah's Sex Offender Laws Even Tougher

(KCPW News) Even people who attempt unsuccessfully to lure a minor for sex online should be punished by a first or second-degree felony, according to State Representative Paul Ray.

"The difference between these guys and the ones actually getting arrested for sexual offenses as the guys online couldn't set up the meeting," says Ray. "If you're on the Internet trying to entice a 13 or 14 year old child, than obviously you've got some issues that need to be dealt with."

Ray is planning legislation that will make a first attempt at online enticement a second-degree felony and any subsequent offense a first-degree felony.

He's also planning to require that registered sex offenders maintain either a valid Utah driver license or state ID card they renew yearly in person. Ray says such measures should help law enforcement keep Utah's sex offender registry more up to date.

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