Leaders work to strengthen punishment for sexual predators

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - The last year saw 641 sex offenders registered in the Guam Sex Offender Registry - half of which were convicted of a sexual violent act. And island leaders are working together to ensure that those who commit the crime pay the price.

Lawmakers and law enforcement are teaming up to ensure that legislation aiming to strengthen the penalties for crimes involving criminal sexual conduct moves forward. "Today we just had a meeting with the attorney general and Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz," explained Senator Brant McCreadie, "and it was regarding the bill, the bill that I introduced the Predator Prevention Act and how we can have absolute collaborations with that different branch of government to make sure this bill is not compromised, but very affective and I think that's what happened today."

The language in Bill 6 includes mandating you serve 100% of your sentence for the first crime and if committed again you would serve life in prison without parole. It also sets mandatory minimum for both first and second degree criminal sexual conduct. "The biggest concern is these predators pay the price," he said.

Although not a co-sponsor of the bill, Cruz and former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Guam, says because of his interest on this matter, he was happy to chime in and provide any helpful information. "In the last term of the legislation if you know, I changed the Statute OF Limitations first for minors and then for adults and so I'm very interested in addressing all these issues as it relates to pedophilia and sexual crimes, and Senator McCreadie was aware of that," said Cruz.

And while he plans to help McCreadie tweak parts of the bill, Attorney General Lenny Rapadas says he supports its intent, saying, "We want to be able to work together to make sure that when it goes to public hearing that we will be able to support it."

He adds that CSC cases are the toughest cases and hopes that the mandatory minimum of 15 years for those committing such crimes are followed without any deviations.

Just yesterday Superior Court Judge Vern Perez imposed the sentence for a convicted child molester to serve only ten years in jail even though the mandatory minimum is 15 years. Rapadas said, "We disagree with some of his findings during the actual sentencing. Again, we'll look at the decision that he issues and we'll review it and appeal it if necessary. We believe that fifteen years minimum is fifteen years."

And while the bill has yet to have a public hearing, McCreadie says he hopes the collaboration sends a strong message, telling KUAM News, "I'm very happy with today's meeting, and I look forward to this bill helping protect the quality of life and helping to protect our kids on Guam."

The attorney general meanwhile is standing firm on illegal sentencing of criminal sexual conduct cases and has ordered a review of the prosecution's cases to determine if any CSC cases had illegal sentences that did not meet the required mandatory minimum.