A law that went into effect in late August now defines "grooming of a minor" as attempting to persuade or entice a minor to engage in sexual acts. It also mandates offenders receive between 5 and 30 years in prison.
Bill sponsor and House Rep. Ed Lewis says until the passage of Evie and Sophie's law, law enforcement officials in Missouri often had to wait until a physical act occurred to prosecute offenders. Lewis says that was the case for Evie and Sophie, two minors from Bolivar, Missouri who were sexually groomed by their taekwondo instructor for three years.
Evie and Sophie's law is a part of a larger bill combating sex trafficking in Missouri. That bill also allows the Missouri Attorney General's office to create counsel dedicating to investigating sex trafficking and sexual exploitation cases in the state.
Learn more at the podcast above.
Until last month, Missouri was one of 36 states that didn't define child grooming by law.
Until last month, Missouri was one of 36 states that didn't define child grooming by law.
