NV lawmakers seek harsh penalties for child prostitutors
Nevada lawmakers seek harsh penalties for anyone involved in child prostitution Posted: March 11, 2009 10:16 AM EDT Updated: March 11, 2009 10:34 AM EDT CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) -- An Assembly committee was asked Tuesday to endorse a broadly written bill that would make anyone who induces a minor to become a prostitute subject to felony charges and possible lifetime supervision as a sex offender. Assemblyman William Horne, chairman of the Assembly Corrections, Parole and Probation Committee, asked the panel to approve his AB238. The Las Vegas Democrat added that Assemblyman John Hambrick, R-Las Vegas, is dropping a similar proposal and will sign onto AB238 as a co-sponsor. Both lawmakers said the bill is needed to stop what Hambrick termed a societal "scourge" that must be eradicated, and were backed by police representatives who said officers are seeing children as young as 11 working as prostitutes. But Jason Frierson, a deputy Clark County public defender, said the bill is so broad that it could result in felony charges being filed against someone merely engaged in a barroom conversation with a minor. Rebecca Gasca of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada also questioned the measure, saying it "just opens up a Pandora's box" because it's so sweeping. http://www.krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9986132