State Senate Passes Bill To Fight Sexual Predators

Thursday, May 18th 2006, 6:10 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The state Senate passed a bill Wednesday creating a full-time Oklahoma crime bureau unit that would investigate cases of child pornography and pedophiles targeting children on the Internet.

The measure was introduced by state Senator Jim Wilson, who is a Democrat from Tahlequah. The bill now goes to Governor Brad Henry, who made it a part of his legislative agenda.

It creates the Internet Crimes Against Children unit under the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

The bill also toughens penalties against predators who solicit minors online.

Officials say the Department of Justice estimates that one in every five teenagers is approached online by a sexual predator.