New Bill Proposes 1st Degree Felony for Child Torture

Oct 16, 2024, 06:40 PM

A new bill, sponsored by Senator Don Ipson, proposes harsher punishments for child abusers by creating a new standalone crime to prosecute extreme cases of child torture. The bill, discussed by the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee, aims to make child torture a first-degree felony, upgrading it from its current status as a second-degree felony. The proposed legislation is inspired by high-profile cases such as Franke/Hildebrandt. The bill specifically makes child torture a first-degree felony.