The Senate Courts of Justice committee Monday passed a bill that would eliminate judicial discretion in the sentencing of adults convicted of the rape of children and sentence anyone convicted of the crime to a mandatory life sentence in prison.
Current law allows a judge to impose a sentence ranging from five years to life for the crime committed against a child under the age of 13.
Senate Bill 436, sponsored by Sen. Mark D. Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg passed the GOP-controlled committee on an 8-7 vote. Due to the need to assess its potential financial impact, it was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
(This has been a breaking news update. Read more in tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.)
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