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News Release: Contact:

July 29, 2014 Robert Hart, 718-545-3889

Brown, Simotas and Gianaris Laud Passage of Legislation to

Crack Down on Persistent Sexual AbuseBill Strengthens Sentencing Laws for Repeat Sex Offenders

QUEENS, N.Y. Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, Assemblymember

Aravella Simotas, and Senator Michael Gianaris announced the passage of newlegislation to strengthen laws regarding persistent sexual abuse. The bill ensures that anytime spent incarcerated would be excluded from the 10-year period during which

penalties are increased for multiple misdemeanor sex offenses.

Persistent sexual abuse makes the conviction of three or more misdemeanor sex offenses

in 10-year period a felony. Previously, time spent incarcerated was included in the

relevant 10-year period. This arrangement was problematic given that during

incarceration an individual is removed from general society and unable to commit sexcrimes against innocent civilians. Queens District Attorney Brown, whose office handles

more than 70,000 arrests each year, noticed the loophole and brought it to the attention of

Simotas, who took action to correct this glaring deficiency. While Simotas fought for thelegislation in the Assembly, Gianaris shepherded the bill through the State Senate.

Persistent sexual abuse makes the conviction of three or more misdemeanor sex offenses

in 10-year period a felony.

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said, The bill which is now before the

Governor for his approval will close a loophole that has prevented prosecutors like

myself from holding repeat misdemeanor sex offenders fully accountable for theiractions. I commend Senator Gianaris and Assembly Member Simotas for their

sponsorship of this important piece of criminal justice legislation and join them in urging

the Governor to sign it into law.

The law must provide protection for the most vulnerable among us, not a shield for

predators,said Simotas. The legislation's passage is an important step towards ensuring

that individuals who commit persistent sexual abuse face the full consequences of theircrimes."

There should be no place in our society for criminals who repeatedly sexually abuse

others in our community, said Gianaris. This bill would crack down harder on those

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miscreants who commit multiple sex crimes in a 10-year period, and in so doing make

every New Yorker safer. I urge Governor Cuomo to sign our legislation into law and help

protect all of us from those who would prey on the vulnerable.

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