Blunts Wants Online Names of Sex Offenders Posted

Gov. Matt Blunt wants sex offenders to register their e-mail address and electronic identities with law enforcement officers.

In announcing his support for the initiative today, Blunt said the provision will be a priority next legislative session. Rep. Tom Dempsey is the bill's sponsor.

“I am committed to combating devious criminals who use the Internet to attack Missouri’s children and will again support tough legislation to stop sexual predators and create harsher punishments for those who commit horrific acts against our young children," Blunt said in a statement.

The Dempsey proposal would require convicted sex offenders to submit their email addresses, Instant Messaging names, and any other electronic identifiers to the sex offender registry. The information would then be available to the public – including parents, as well as Internet service providers, Instant Messaging companies, and social networking sites. Registered sex offenders will only be allowed to use email addresses or other Internet based identifiers that they provide to the sex offender registry. Violations will be treated the same as violations of other sex offender registry requirements, with the severity of punishment relating to the severity of the sex offender’s underlying conviction.

Blunt said the proposed law would give prosecutors another tool to stop Internet predators. It will create the crime of Age Misrepresentation with Intent to Solicit a Minor. The penalty for preying on young victims will be a class D felony, punishable by up to four years in prison, with even stronger penalties for repeat offenders.

“As a father of three children, one being a teenager, what goes on the Internet is of grave concern to me personally,” Rep. Tom Dempsey said. “Many Missouri children spend a great deal of their time on the Internet and this legislation will add information to our sex offender registry that can be used to protect them from sexual predators who use the Internet to prey on children. I am eager to file this legislation and I am very pleased to have Governor Blunt’s strong support.”