New bill aims to deter child pornography in Wisconsin
by WBAY
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - State legislators, with help from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, are trying to close a loophole when it comes to child enticement laws in Wisconsin.
In today’s world, sending a picture can be done within seconds making it easier and easier for online predators to get sexually explicit photos from minors.
“All the electronics we have usually take some type of picture now and everybody has a camera at their disposal and everyone can send stuff at their disposal,” said Lt. Jim Valley, Brown County Sheriff’s Office.
If predators don’t get a sexually explicit photo the first time around, Lt. Valley says it’s not illegal to keep asking for one under state law. Lt. Valley said it only becomes illegal when a photo is actually sent, then it becomes child pornography. But until a photo is sent, Lt. Valley said there isn’t much they can do.
“With every case we have to have a criminal violation to go after that person so if we don’t have a criminal violation we can’t do our legal process,” said Lt. Valley.
In hopes of doing more on the front end when it comes to child enticement laws, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office reached out to state legislators.
For the past few months, Representative Andre Jacque and Senator Van Wanggaard have been working on a new bill with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.
“This legislation deals with closing a loop hole for the solicitation of nude and sexually explicit images from children by adults,” said Rep. Jacque.
The new bill would make asking for sexually explicit pictures from minors a class ‘A’ misdemeanor, which carries up to 9 months in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
“We shouldn’t have to wait for somebody to actually respond to an attempt to solicit child sex porn before we find a way to intervene and deal with that conduct. It’s just disgusting,” said Rep. Jacque.
“I think it’s very important to start trying to put these roadblocks in place to be able to at least deter it or stop it before it gets any further,” said Lt. Valley.
Rep. Jacque hopes to have the bill on Governor Scott Walker’s desk by the fall.