Sen. Diamond introduces bill to increase penalty for sex trafficking children
AUGUSTA – On Wednesday, Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, introduced a bill to increase the penalty for sex trafficking children 14 years old and younger. LD 813, “An Act To Increase the Penalty for Engaging in the Sex Trafficking of Children,” was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee.
“I’ve been working on child sexual abuse issues and legislation for many years, and I believe this bill is needed now to further protect our children,” said Sen. Diamond. “After speaking with law enforcement professionals who work on these crimes, I have learned that there is a disturbing trend of younger and younger children being abused and sex trafficked. A maximum sentence of 10 years for sex trafficking a five-month-old is not enough. My hope is that this bill will help obtain justice for more victims.”
In Maine, aggravated sex trafficking occurs when a person knowingly compels someone to engage in prostitution, promotes prostitution of a person less than 18 years old, or promotes prostitution of someone with a mental disability or who otherwise cannot understand the nature of their conduct. In Maine, aggravated sex trafficking is a Class B felony, carrying no mandatory minimum sentence and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. At the federal level, aggravated sex trafficking carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years. LD 813 would make aggravated sex trafficking of a child 14 years old or younger a Class A crime in Maine. Class A crimes carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
“Enhancing the penalty from a Class B felony to a Class A felony, to me, really addresses the trauma that is induced by a perpetrator on a victim. Unfortunately, we know that adverse childhood experiences with trauma can be life altering, and exploitations such as this would definitely fall within that category,” said Cumberland County District Attorney Jonathan Sahrbeck in testimony supporting the bill.
LD 813 faces further action in committee.
