By Fox23.com News Staff
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Senator David Bullard, R-Durant, has advanced a bill that would make “grooming” a felony crime in Oklahoma.
Senate Bill 1540 would make it a felony for an individual to willfully or maliciously engage in grooming, which the bill defines as an individual befriending or establishing an emotional connection with a minor or a person responsible for a minor’s health, safety or well being with the intention to engage in lewd or sexual acts with the minor.
The crime would be punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
“In our time, we have witnessed one of the largest increases in the ‘grooming’ and targeting of our kids,” Bullard said. “For far too long, we have waited until the damage has been done to step in and stop kids from being ‘groomed’ for sexual exploitation. Senate Bill 1540 works to stop pedophiles before they have a chance to severely and permanently damage our kids.”
SB 1540 recently passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and is awaiting a vote of the full Senate.
