Namesake of ‘Alicia’s Law’ pushes lawmakers for funds
Alicia Kozakiewicz, who survived being abducted as a child, urged Virginia legislators yesterday not to cut the Internet safety funding she helped secure 10 months ago.
Kozakiewicz, the namesake of "Alicia's Law," stood beside state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, and Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, R-Newport News, to call for the funding, which is not included in the 2010 budget.
Deeds, one of three Democrats seeking the nomination to run for governor this year, said, "Even if it saves one Alicia, it's worth it."
Kozakiewicz was captured in Pennsylvania when she was 13 years old and brought to Virginia and molested. She became a national symbol for a child preyed upon by a sex predator using the Internet.
Her efforts a year ago helped secure $1.5 million in funding in the 2008-2009 budget. The money was used to set up child-pornography task forces in Bedford County and Northern Virginia.
One of Deeds' opponents for the Democratic nomination, Brian J. Moran of Alexandria, then a member of the House of Delegates, worked with her in securing the funding last year.
At yesterday's news conference Kozakiewicz criticized Gov. Timothy M. Kaine for spending $500,000 of state money to send buses to President Barack Obama's inauguration while not seeking funding for the two task forces.
A spokesman for Kaine blamed the General Assembly, saying the budget lawmakers adopted last year secured funding in the first year of the biennium but not the second.
Kaine did not ask for more money this year.
Asked about the criticism of Kaine, whose support Deeds would welcome in the race for governor, Deeds said, "The governor is a good friend of mine; we don't agree on everything. I'm not sure I agree with my wife on everything."
Deeds said the General Assembly would find the money to continue the program.
Moran issued a statement saying Alicia's Law needs continued funding.
Moran also announced a "Green Virginia" energy plan that would require that 25 percent of Virginia's energy come from renewable sources by 2025 by investing in wind and solar energy, biomass and waste-to-energy.
Moran, who has emphasized energy conservation during his campaign, also called for the formation of a Center for Innovative Green Technology to coordinate investments and planning in the state.
Moran already has come out in opposition to drilling for oil or gas off the coast of Virginia and to construction of a coal-fired power plant in Surry County.
Moran, Deeds and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe of McLean are seeking the nomination to run for governor in a June 9 primary.
Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or
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A recent study has shown that the Internet is not as dangerous as the Attorney General has made it look to parents.
Report Finds Online Threats to Children Overblown
By Brad Stone
Published: January 13, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/us/14cyber.html
Enhancing Child Safety and Online Technologies:
Final Report of the Internet Safety Technical Task Force to the Multi-State Working Group on Social Networking of State Attorneys General of the United States.
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/pubrelease/isttf/
Perhaps the story you should be reporting is who is labeled a sex offender today in America.
Are Virginians Aware?
Are Virginians aware that their teenagers are having consensual sex which could result in the older teen being convicted of sexual assault,battery or rape,a prison sentence and being listed on the Sex Offender Registry for 15 years20 years or for a lifetime?
Are Virginians aware that their teenagers are e-mailing and texting nude photos of themselves and others? This could result in both teens being charged with creating,distributing and possessing pornography with time in prison and being listed on the Virginia Sex Offender Registry.
Are Virginians aware that middle schoolers have been convicted and listed on Sex Offender Registries for pinching other middle schoolers on their rear-end?
Are Virginians aware that because of the “victim’s rights laws/ rape shield laws” an ACCUSATION ALONE is sufficient for a conviction, a prison term of 5 to 25 years or even life and then being listed as a sex offender most likely for life?
Are Virginians aware that NO evidence, NO witness, NO dates or times have to be given by the accuser and that the accusation itself is entered as evidence during a trial?
Are Virginians aware that the accused CAN NOT defend themselves by supplying evidence or witnesses that can prove the accuser is lying and had a motive to lie?
Are Virginians aware that the accuser only has 21 DAYS to recant a lie? Any amount of time after 21 days the wrongful conviction, the sentence and being listed on the registry as a Sex Offender stands.
Are Virginians aware they are no longer innocent until proven guilty in America when there is a sexual claim, they are guilty and not allowed to prove their innocence?
Are Virginians aware that a VERY large number of Registered Sex Offenders have never touched or raped anyone, let alone a child?
But guilt by association on the Sex Offender Registry labels them all as a pervert, a pedophile and a predator for life.
Are Virginians aware that in 2006 and 2008 the Virginia General Assembly re-classified ALMOST ALL Non-Violent Offenders who are not considered any true threat to a Violent Offender classification.
Thus resulting in 90% of all Virginia registered Sex Offenders being reclassified by the legislators who have ignored the sentence given by the court.
This includes many offenses that had NO physical contact.
To re-sentence a citizen of the United States without giving them the opportunity to testify in their own behalf is a violation of their Constitutional Rights.
Are Virginians aware that there are approximately 15,400 people on the Virginia Sex Offender Registry right now? That would be 1 in every 500 persons in Virginia is on the registry.
Are Virginians aware that approximately 5,839,165 of Virginians are over the age of 18 and approximately 2,861,189 of them are male?
If 95% of offenders are male that would be 1 out of every 210 adult male in Virginia is on the registry right now.
Are Virginians aware that this number will NEVER decrease, it will only increase (about 1,200 every year) due to the ever changing laws passed by the state and federal politicians?
There is a huge difference between stealing a newspaper and robbing a bank, both crimes are considered theft but both are differentiated by law and society.
Are Virginians aware that the current laws that label someone as a Sex Offender in the U.S do not differentiate? Whether you are accused of teenage consensual sex, urinating in public, mooning or streaking, pinching or touching someone or being a serial rapist upon your return to society conviction and sentence will be the same.
Have you previously judged, slandered or claimed all Registered Sex Offenders should be castrated or killed?
Did you previously think all Registered Sex Offenders must be guilty if listed on the Registry?
Did you think that you, your spouse or your children were immune from ever becoming a Registered Sex Offender?
Unless the Virginia LegislatorsSenatorsAttorney GeneralLieutenant Governor and Governor fix these current laws every parent, child, teacher, daycare worker, coach, troop leader, pastor, medical worker, neighbor and Virginian has a very good chance of winding up on the Virginia Sex Offender Registry.
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