Evidently hoping to convince us that Republicans really don’t coddle and pardon pedophiles, rookie Rep. Travis Ismay (R-28B/Vale) follows up his inconsistent recall bill for county commissioners with a bill to throw a bigger book at people (mostly men) who rape children.
Rep. Ismay’s House Bill 1031 would change the penalty for an act of sexual penetration of a child less than thirteen years of age—first-degree rape—from a Class C felony to a Class B felony. Both Class B and Class C felonies can draw life sentences, but conviction of a Class B felony precludes the option of a lesser sentence. Rep. Ismay says he’d like the state to kill people who rape children, but in 2008, the Supreme Court ruled in Kennedy v. Louisiana that imposing the death penalty for child rape violates the Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment. But that was a 5–4 decision with conservative Justices Roberts, Thomas, Alito, and Scalia dissenting, so go ahead, Travis: amend HB 1013 up to death for rapists and run a rape case up the Trump Court’s flagpole.
HB 1031 does not change the maximum monetary penalty of $50K for first-degree rape. Nor does HB 1031 change the penalty for having sex with 13-, 14-, or 15-year olds—fourth-degree rape—which is a Class 3 felony, worth up to 15 years in the Pen and a $30K fine.
Feel sorry for those 14 year old boys. The best of intentions can go astray.
Deat penalty for adult child molestors. Death plus life if the adult’s are clergy or pols.
Friend of da blog, Roger was raised in the Native school in RapTown. He said no one molested him. Figured he didn’t fit the rogue Priest victim profile. RIP Rog
Bernie v. Blue Cloud Abbey was one of several cases that ended up before the South Dakota Supreme Court alleging church officials at the time covered up serial sexual abuse taking place at the compound. After helping to broker the sale of the abbey Watertown member of the criminal cult, Lee Schoenbeck, aided by fellow cultist and lobbyist Jeremiah Murphy, forced the perverted South Dakota Legislature to pass laws covering up countless crimes committed by their sect by enacting statutes of limitations.
In South Dakota at least thirty two members of the Church of the Holy Roman Kiddie Diddlers have been credibly accused of preying on children. In Sioux Falls cleric Don DeGrood replaced Paul Swain to lord over some of the slush fund that buys silence from Marty Jackley and South Dakota’s depraved legislature.
Unfortunately, very few pedophiles get reported, let alone arrested. convicted and sentenced. There should be no age limit on rape victims and there should be severe sentencing for perps. If they don’t comply with therapy, they don’t get out.