Delegate McDougle’s Legislative Agenda – Tough on Crime

–Delegate McDougle Introduces Bills to Fight Crime– 

RICHMOND – Delegate Ryan T. McDougle (HD – 97) proposed a legislative crime package for the 2003 General Assembly, which addresses the high profile DC sniper case, child pornography, and drug trafficking. 

“We are introducing a set of bills for this session, which will make criminals more accountable for their actions, make our homes safer from the unseen intrusion of internet predators, and help rid our streets of drug dealers,” said McDougle.

McDougle is sponsoring, House Bill 1683, which removes a provision that bars the Commonwealth from prosecuting criminals.  As in the case of Mohammad/Malvo sniper shootings, one of which recently occurred in Ashland, Virginia, a Federal indictment would have prohibited Virginia from ever prosecuting the defendants.  This new bill, if passed, would allow Virginia and the Federal government to prosecute these defendants for the same heinous crimes.  

Attorney General Jerry Kilgore has asked Delegate McDougle to carry an Anti-Child Pornography bill as a part of his legislative package.  The bill would establish a Child Pornography Images Registry within the Computer Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General.  The Registry of images would be used as a cross-reference for investigation and as evidence for conviction of related offenses.  McDougle’s bill also increases penalties for child pornography possession from a misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony and second and subsequent offenses to a Class 5 felony. 

House Bill 2458, introduced by McDougle, increases the penalty for distributing cocaine.  Currently, sentencing guidelines permit certain individuals who distribute cocaine to automatically enter a diversion/detention program instead of serving time in jail.  “I strongly believe that jail time is a necessary punishment for selling cocaine on our streets,” said McDougle.

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