Ruh-roh “Todd” wherever you are, this law is upping the stakes like a good hand sporting a royal flush might at the poker table. From the Courant:

The state’s version of the so-called Jessica’s law establishes a new crime of aggravated sexual assault of a child under age 13 that carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 25 years for a first offense and 50 years for a second offense.

The bill, which is expected to be signed into law by Gov. M. Jodi Rell, passed the House of Representatives unanimously Saturday afternoon. The Senate endorsed the bill unanimously May 29.

“This is a big step in the right direction,” said state Rep. Arthur J. O’Neill, R-Southbury. “I think it goes a long way toward protecting the children of Connecticut from sexual predators.”

Rell has been a staunch supporter of harsher penalties for child sex offenders. This year’s bill was pushed by Rell and Republican leaders in the House and Senate. Similar legislation has been passed in 39 other states. It is named after 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, who was killed by a sex offender in Florida.

If signed into the law, the new punishments would take effect July 1.

Among those the new law of aggravated sexual assault of a minor would apply to include: anyone who sexually assaults a child age 12 or younger; anyone who kidnaps, restrains, stalks or causes serious injury to the child; and anyone who does not know the victim.

The bill also sets new mandatory minimum prison sentences for other child sex crimes including: a new 10-year minimum sentence for employing a minor in an obscene performance and mandatory minimum five-year prison sentences for importing or possessing child pornography, having sexual contact with a child under age 13 and enticing a minor into sexual contact through use of a computer or the Internet.

source: The Courant, House Approves Strict Measures Aimed At Curbing Child Sex Offenses
, By COLIN POITRAS, June 3, 2007