Panel endorses stronger sex laws

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday approved a handful of recommendations for tightening the state's sex offender statutes, including a recommendation for a new law that resembles the controversial Jessica's Law and has a mandatory 25-year minimum sentence.

If approved by the Legislature, the proposed law would give prosecutors the option of charging an accused sex offender with a new crime: "aggravated sexual assault against a child under 16 with a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years to life.

"The panel's action came during the last in a series of hearings convened in response to the death last summer of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett. At the hearing, the lawmakers heard testimony from a victim of Bennett's accused killer, her uncle Michael Jacques.

"It's another formidable tool for the prosecutors," said Sen. John Campbell, vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

"When they have a good case … they're going to bring this charge," said panel Chairman Sen. Richard Sears. He said the law, if approved, would fulfill Gov. James Douglas' request to enact Jessica's Law.