Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Wednesday that added fines to some offenders who solicit sexual acts by children aged 16 and 17.
The new law will allow prosecutors to collect suspects at least three years of age, more than they do to felony minors, rather than misdemeanors for the first offense, which is often called “shaking” because prosecutors have discretion. The provision targets the older “John” and avoids felony charges against all young offenders.
Under existing laws, all minors under the age of 16 and victims aged 18 are considered as swinging cases.
The bill AB 379 fell into controversy in the spring when Democrats forced amendments to the Maggy Krell (D-Sacramento) bill on the committee, arguing that allowing prosecutors to choose whether to commit a felony to a criminal or a charge of a first offense could result in potential harm to the victim.
Newsom joined the Republican choir and the public’s challenge to join the change, a rare move before the bill hit his table. “The law should treat all sexual predators seeking minors with the same sexual behavior – regardless of the felony, regardless of the age of the expected victim,” Newsom said in a statement. “On the whole site.”
Democrats also have other concerns about the provisions of the new law, which will make the wanderer misdemeanors aimed at buying commercial sex, believing that it has the potential to be used to target minorities and the poor.
“When the laws are ambiguous, they mature,” said Lashae Sharp-Collins (D-SAN Diego), an illustration of the convention, and when the bill passed the convention in May, lawmakers reached an agreement to add three-year provisions.
The new law also created a survivor support fund and received fines from offenders and hotel operators who did not report sexual trafficking on their premises.
