Senate Committee Passes Jessica's Law

Joan Harris headed to Annapolis for a fight. Instead she ended up hugging Senator Nancy Jacobs, the sponsor of a bill to toughen the penalties of a convicted child rapist.

"The issue is to protect the children from being raped and the only way to do it is if he's in prison or he's dead," said Harris.

The case of 11-year-old Sarah Foxwell, whose body was found in Salisbury on Christmas Day, has given the effort a renewed push. Thomas Leggs, the man accused of killing her, was previously convicted of raping a child.

Currently under Jessica's Law in Maryland, a child rapist serves a mandatory five years in prison. The senate bill would increase it to 20 years.

However, there was a surprise in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, when the bill passed “as is” without discussion. The bill's sponsor thought the chairman would decrease the mandatory time to 10 years.

"It is an election year. You're going to see some people vote for things they may never vote for in an election year because they know that they're answerable to the people of Maryland," said Sen. Jacobs, (R) Harford and Cecil Counties.

A few hours before committee, Senate Chairman Brian Frosh showed doubt over the need for prosecutors to have new guidelines.

"The existing provisions are never really used, and it raises into question which way we ought to go with it," said Sen. Frosh, (D) Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Chairman.

The change in tune a few hours later has advocates of the bill a bit nervous moving forward.

"Now to take it out as is at 20 years makes me a little bit suspicious," said Harris.

The bill still have to has to survive the Senate. The House passed a similar measure mandating 15 years in prison.