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Assemblyman John Perez endorses tougher sentences for some sex offenders

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Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) pledged his support Tuesday for a bill that would establish a penalty of a life sentence without the possibility of parole for forcible sex crimes against minors in some circumstances.

Perez made the announcement in a Capitol press conference Tuesday, flanked by the family of Chelsea King, the 17-year-old San Diego County girl who was killed earlier this year. The man charged with killing the Poway High School student had been on parole until 2008, after serving five years in prison for molesting a 13-year-old girl.

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A bill by San Diego Republican Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher would establish life sentences for people who commit sex crimes against minors when there are aggravating circumstances such as torture and ‘kidnapping that substantially increases risk of harm to the victim.’

Perez said he supported the all of the ‘core concepts’ in the bill and was committed to moving the bill through the Assembly this year. He said he would also do what he could to move the bill through the Senate and on to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk.

-- Anthony York and Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

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