SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two Florida bills aimed at increasing penalties in child sexual abuse cases and requiring custody for certain convicted defendants before sentencing.
Speaking at the Tampa Bay Regional Operational Center at FDLE, DeSantis said the laws are meant to strengthen protections for children and prevent offenders from remaining free after conviction.
One of the measures, House Bill 445, is known as “Missy’s Law.” DeSantis said the bill requires judges to remand certain convicted defendants to custody pending sentencing.
DeSantis tied the bill to the killing of a 5-year-old girl he identified as Missy. He said her stepfather had been convicted in a case involving an attempted sex crime against a minor, but was allowed to remain out on bail before sentencing.
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“What happened in between that decision and the time he was sentenced?” DeSantis said. “He murdered Missy.”
DeSantis identified the judge in the case as Leon County Judge Tiffany Baker and sharply criticized the decision not to revoke bail.
“A miscarriage of justice. A dereliction of judicial duty,” DeSantis said.
He also urged the Florida House to pursue impeachment, saying lawmakers have the authority to remove a circuit judge.
The second measure, House Bill 1159, expands criminal offenses and increases penalties related to child sexual abuse material. DeSantis said the bill also addresses AI-generated sexual abuse material involving children.
Attorney General James Uthmeier said the state has continued to pursue child predator cases aggressively. He said Florida has made more than 1,400 child predator arrests since he took office, rescued more than 300 missing children and secured thousands of years in criminal sentences.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said child sexual abuse material cases have increased and argued the tougher penalties are necessary. He cited a Pinellas County case in which a woman was accused of forcing her 11-year-old daughter to perform sexual acts on camera in a St. Petersburg home.
Gualtieri also said the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested 188 people in the past year on child pornography charges involving 1,360 counts.
State Rep. Berny Jacques said the legislation reflects continued cooperation between law enforcement, the Legislature and the governor on child protection laws.
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