MOUNT PLEASANT, WI (WTAQ) – A De Pere lawmaker’s set of bills dealing with child sex crimes has been signed into law by Governor Scott Walker.
Representative Andre Jacque says one bill makes it a crime to solicit sexually-explicit images of minors.
He explains the current policy.
“If those images were actually sent, then a crime would be committed, then you can stop that person. But until you find somebody who is vulnerable, who actually has already sent the images, you don’t have any recourse.”
Jacque says this bill is especially important because it is Milwaukee, not Chicago or Minneapolis, that is the sex trafficking hub of the Midwest.
“Milwaukee’s problems have migrated up to the Fox Valley. Traffickers have gotten a foothold in Northeast Wisconsin.”
Jacque notes the crime is punishable by up to nine months in jail.
Two other bills increase the penalty for engaging in prostitution with a child and making third offense prostitution and human trafficking crimes felonies.
Another of Jacque’s measures deals with providing alcohol to minors.
Jacque says the social hosting bill addresses those who house underage drinking parties.
He explains the problems that those events can bring.
“Alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, when you look at the earlier onset of unsafe drinking behavior that happens with these social hosting parties, it’s very important that we get on top of it now.”
He notes it’s especially important for some cities, including one that is close to home.
“Green Bay being one of the few metro areas in the entire country where you have over half the traffic fatalities having alcohol as a significant contributing factor.”
Jacque says this follows an appeals court stripping away local ordinances that deal with underage drinking parties.
He notes this bill brings a $500 fine, with that amount increasing for repeat offenders.
In total, Walker signed eight bills that Jacque authored during his Friday stop in Mount Pleasant.
