Sexual Predators Will Face Stiffer Punishment For Rape Or Sexual Offenses Against Children

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today signed into law House Bill 933 (The Jessica Lunsford Act), “An act to provide that certain criminal offenses of rape or sexual offense committed against a child are Class B1 felonies and the offender shall not receive active punishment of less than 300 months (25 years) followed by lifetime satellite-based monitoring or the possibility of life imprisonment without parole; to increase the criminal penalties for sexual exploitation of a minor and promoting prostitution of a minor; to amend the sex offender registration requirements to be more stringent, to require community notification regarding the presence of a sexually violent predator or repeat sex offender; to amend the law regarding bail for violations of probation and post release supervision; to create a new criminal offense that makes it unlawful for a sex offender to be on certain premises (such as schools, playgrounds and child care centers); to address education and health of juveniles subject to restrictions; and to require sex offender registries checks of school contractual personnel before allowing them to have direct interaction with students.”

“Today we send a message that North Carolina will protect our children from vicious predators,” Easley said. “We will make sure they spend more time in prison and we will track them 24-7 to make sure they never abuse children again.”

Easley signed the bill in Gaston County, where Jessica Lunsford, the 9-year-old for whom the bill is named, was born and lived until she moved to Florida in 2004. In February 2005 she was raped and murdered by a sex offender. The offender, John Couey, was convicted of her murder and has been sentenced to death. Police had lost track of Couey, who was staying with his sister in the same neighborhood as Jessica.

Appearing with the governor at the bill signing was Mark Lunsford, father of Jessica, who has lobbied legislatures around the nation, including North Carolina, for tougher child predator laws.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 109-1, and the Senate by a vote of 46-0. Primary sponsors in the House were: Reps. Julia Howard (R-Davie), Debbie Clary (R-Cleveland, Gaston), Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) and Charles Thomas (R-Buncombe). In the Senate, the primary sponsor was Sen. David Hoyle (D-Gaston). The new law goes into effect Dec. 1.