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EDITORIAL: New law cracks down on Internet predatorsJun 20, 2010 (The Salem News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Gov. Deval Patrick and the Legislature did not waste any time closing the loophole that allowed a Beverly man to duck charges of sending obscene material to an underage person simply because they were transmitted electronically. In a ruling earlier this year, the state's Supreme Judicial Court overturned the conviction of Matt Zubiel -- who'd conducted an exchange via instant messaging with someone he assumed to be a 13-year-old girl -- because the law barring the dissemination of obscene materials to a minor did not specifically mention modern communication techniques like instant messaging or texting. "The law addresses an obvious gap in current statute and helps us to better protect our young people. I thank the Legislature for their quick action on this common sense measure," Patrick declared, signing the bill Tuesday. The governor had filed the measure in February immediately following the SJC decision in the Zubiel case. Those found in violation of the law are subject to a fine of between $1,000 and $10,000 for a first offense, $5,000 to $20,000 for a second offense and $10,000 to $30,000 for a third and subsequent offenses. Added to legislation was a provision that makes assaulting a correctional officer with bodily fluids a criminal offense. Those found guilty could have their sentences extended by up to 10 years. Noted Sen. Jim Timilty, co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security: "Today, in one piece of legislation, we are protecting our corrections officers from horrible attacks and our children from predators over the Internet and (via) texting." To see more of The Salem News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.salemnews.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Salem News, Mass. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |