'Jessica's Law' gets OK from House panel

The so-called "Jessica's Law" advanced Wednesday.

HB256, which was approved unanimously by the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, would increase the penalties for certain types of sex offenses against children. It would also up the penalties for those who strike plea deals, pleading guilty to "attempted" offenses. It is named after Jessica Lunsford, a little girl who was raped and murdered in 2005 in Florida by a convicted sex offender.

"This satisfies the necessary public outcry for stiffer penalties for child molesters," said Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, the bill's sponsor.

Rape of a child, sodomy on a child and object rape of a child could have a 25-years-to-life sentence. The parole board still retains some authority to deviate from that sentence, Wimmer said. "Attempted" charges would get a standardized sentence of 15-years-to-life, but the measure grants the judge the ability to deviate to a minimum of 3-, 6-, or 10-years-to-life in prison.

This version of the bill would likely increase the number of plea deals, sparing child victims the pain of testifying at a trial, Wimmer said, but does not deprive the courts or the parole board of any authority.

"It ultimately sets Utah as the gold standard across the nation," Wimmer said.