HOUSE BACKS INCREASING MINIMUM SENTENCE FOR SEX OFFENDERS

Lawmakers debated whether sex offenders should be given longer minimum sentences - or whether that would only force more cases to go to trial, putting more young victims on the witness stand to relive what happened to them.  By the end of the day Monday, the House backed increasing the mandatory minimum for second offenders from 10 years to 25 years in prison.  The House advanced the bill to third reading.  If approved by the House today, the bill would go to the Senate.  The bill is House Bill 140.

(Cheyenne, Wyoming)