A Wyoming County lawmaker is once again advocating for stricter penalties for sex crimes involving children.
Hoops Family Children’s Hospital in Huntington reported treating 278 child abuse victims in 2023, a figure Del. Adam Vance, R-Wyoming, said highlights the need for stronger laws.
“That’s the worst kind of degrading that I think that you could do to somebody, and we need stiffer penalties for that,” Vance said.
Vance has introduced the legislation for the third year in a row. The bill seeks to increase criminal penalties for sex crimes against children. Similar measures gained support during the past two legislative sessions but failed to pass due to procedural hurdles.
This year, Vance is calling on the Senate to move the bill forward.
“Hopefully we can get attention to it and say this is something that is good legislation that we need passed,” he said.
The proposal would increase sentences for child sexual abuse, raise penalties for child neglect resulting in death, and strengthen punishments for exhibiting, transporting, or sending material that depicts children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
“In my opinion, anybody that’s found guilty of sexual offenses on women, men, children, elderly, the mental disability and all those, they should be prosecuted to the fullest,” Vance said. “No plea deals, no nothing. A lot of our laws and stuff like that when it comes to heinous crimes like that are too lenient in my opinion. That’s why I wanted to change that.”
Olivia Laverty, deputy director of the West Virginia Child Advocacy Center, said the legislation could help reduce repeat offenses.
“Some studies have found that it’s like as high as 42% of offenders will offend again,” Laverty said. “I just think that the increased penalties and the potential to hold these folks in prison longer for the crimes that they have committed could keep more children safe in the long run.”
Laverty also noted the bill includes tougher penalties for offenders in positions of trust, such as parents, teachers, and coaches. She said most victims served by the organization know their alleged abuser.
Of the 4,700 children assisted by the advocacy center, Laverty said 2,415 alleged offenders were parents. When factoring in stepparents, relatives, and a parent’s partner, she said about 96% of victims knew the accused individual.
Supporters argue the bill’s harsher penalties are meant to deter abuse and hold offenders accountable, while critics in past sessions cited procedural issues that stalled its progress.
Vance said he is hopeful the legislation will advance this year.