Latest news with #HB38
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
FBI targets global sextortion rings amid teen suicide
The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on Thursday a global operation to combat international sextortion schemes to address the rise in American suicides of those who have fallen victim to the crime. And the problem is on the rise in a big way. From October 2024 to March 2025, the FBI reported a 30% increase in sextortion-related tips submitted to their National Threat Operations Center, according to the press release. Additionally, the number of victims increased from 34,000 to 54,000 between 2023 and 2024, and in the last two years, more than $65 million in exploited money has been transferred to perpetrators from their victims. In collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies, the FBI recently conducted Operation Artemis, looking into the high volume of sextortion criminals based in Nigeria who were preying on Americans. The investigation led to 22 Nigerian arrests, and nearly half were connected to American victims who took their own lives because of threats of sexual extortion they were facing. The majority of victims are boys between the ages of 14 and 17. 'Operation Artemis exemplifies the FBI's never-ending mission to protect our most vulnerable, and to pursue the heinous criminals harming our children — no matter where they hide,' said FBI Director Kash Patel, per the press release. 'This operation highlights the critical need for international cooperation to address this growing threat, and it's a fight we can't take on without our valued partners across the globe. We hope this message encourages parents and guardians to continue to educate their children about online safety and serves as a reminder of the FBI's relentless pursuit of keeping our children safe.' Sextortion can occur on any social media, messaging or even gaming platform, virtually anywhere with an online public discord. What often happens is that a minor will believe they are in conversation with someone of a similar age who is interested in pursuing a relationship with them, but is actually an adult posing as a young person. The perpetrator will then coerce them into sharing sexually explicit materials of themselves, which they will then use against the child to exploit money. 'Our young men are actually committing suicide from the experience itself. It can be drawn out and bring them to that point where they're finding no other way out,' Utah state Sen. Calvin R. Musselman, R-West Haven, said during a ceremonial public safety bill signing earlier this month. To target the worst of the worst, HB38, Criminal Offenses Modifications was signed into law this year, and Musselman, who was the bill's floor sponsor, said the education side of the law will 'hopefully make these young men recognize it's not who they think it is that's posing online, and also, know that their lives aren't over, and hopefully, this will make a difference.' The law comes after the loss of multiple boys who took their own lives last year in Utah, who, after being sexually exploited, concluded that suicide was their only outlet. Utah mother Cindy George shared the story of losing her son Jake last year in testimony to lawmakers in December. 'No mother should have to bury their son. I'm here because I cannot catch those evil people. Nothing was done to catch them,' she said, per KUTV. 'These evil people are preying upon our children and if we can't stop them we need to prevent our youth from taking the bait. They need to understand what is preying upon them. They need to know that a mistake of sending a picture is not worth taking your life over,' she added. For five days, Jake was the victim of sextortion after sending a nude photo to what he thought was a girl who liked him. 'And as soon as he sent it, he got a message saying, 'Now we've got you, you're gonna pay us or we're going to ruin your life with this, with this picture,'' his mother said, recounting the messages she read from her son's phone. FBI Special Agent Curtis Cox, who serves on the Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force in Salt Lake City, told KSL TV that Salt Lake's field office gets 10-12 reports a week. 'We think that the best remedy to solving this problem is education and the knowledge of what is happening,' Cox said. 'My kids have cellphones. We do frequent checks with them. We know the pins. We review the messages sent and received, pictures. We restrict the apps that they can use.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beshear signs licensing of nicotine retailers, other bills that ‘put our Kentucky families first'
Kentucky Capitol. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) Kentucky will begin licensing retailers who sell nicotine, which advocates have said will help regulate an industry and protect minors from addictive chemicals. Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 100 into law on Monday, which is aimed at curbing minors' access to tobacco and e-cigarettes. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death. Beshear also signed into law SB 120, which would require coaches and others to report abuse and neglect concerns; HB 38, which will make it a Class D felony to violate a protective order for the third time; HB 10, which will streamline the removal of illegal squatters from private property; and more. 'I will always put our Kentucky families first,' Beshear said in a statement. 'I was proud to sign into law several measures that will do just that – increasing opportunity and making our New Kentucky Home a better place to live, learn and do business.' Under the new law, Kentucky will license all retailers who sell tobacco and vape products, giving the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) inspection and enforcement powers over them, similar to those it exercises over alcohol retailers. It will also fine retailers who sell nicotine products to minors and give half the money collected in fines to a youth prevention program in a state where about 5% of high school students smoke and almost 20% use e-cigarettes, according to The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Smoking costs the state more than $2 billion every year in health complications, according to the campaign. The other half would go toward enforcement expenses. Parts of the bill will go into effect immediately and others — including the licensing portion — will wait until Jan. 1.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AG Coleman praises Senate passage of stronger DV law
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Attorney General Russell Coleman praised members of Kentucky's General Assembly after the Senate unanimously passed legislation to strengthen Kentucky's domestic violence laws. AG Coleman's office says HB 38, introduced by Representative James Tipton with a floor amendment from Senate Judiciary Chair Brandon Storm, makes repeated violations of protective orders a felony offense. The legislation will now go back to the Kentucky House of Representatives, which unanimously passed a previous version. AG Coleman, others call on EPA to not let CA regulate pesticides 'As the statewide voice on ending intimate partner violence, we are grateful for this additional tool that will help our legal system protect survivors of domestic violence and their children. By making it clear that the courts will not abide repeated violations of protective orders, we can keep more Kentucky families safe,' said Angela Yannelli, ZeroV Chief Executive Officer. 'We are thankful to Attorney General Russell Coleman, Sen. Brandon Storm, Rep. James Tipton and all of our elected leaders who have made it a priority to listen to survivors and respond to their needs.' If anyone has been a victim of a crime, they are asked to contact the Attorney General's Victim Resource and Referral Line at (800) 372-2551. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Attorney General Coleman applauds domestic violence bill
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Attorney General Russell Coleman applauded the Kentucky House of Representatives on its unanimous passage of enhanced protections for victims of domestic and interpersonal violence. AG Coleman says Chairman James Tipton of Taylorsville, Kentucky introduced HB 38, which makes repeated violations of protective orders a felony offense. Attorney General Coleman announces lawsuit over New York climate tax 'Domestic violence is one of the most serious threats facing our Commonwealth. It impacts children, parents, families and entire communities, and it presents one of the greatest dangers for law enforcement. I'm grateful to Chairman Tipton and the Kentucky House for staring into the face of this darkness with this legislation,' said Attorney General Coleman. 'By increasing penalties for offenders and better protecting victims, we can give new tools to prosecutors, victims advocates and law enforcement. I look forward to working closely with Senators to pass meaningful legislation to deter this criminal conduct and keep Kentucky families safe.' Gov. Beshear signs executive order for emergency 30-day prescription refills Officials say in August of last year, Erica Riley and her mother, Janet, were killed in Elizabethtown, Kentucky just moments before they were set to appear in court for an emergency protective order. If anyone has been a victim of a crime, contact the Attorney General's Victim Resource and Referral Line at (800) 372-2551. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Repeat violators of protective orders would face stiffer penalties under bill moving in legislature
Mary Ann Pratt testified in support of a bill that would increase penalties for repeat violations of a domestic violence protective order. Rep. James Tipton, R-Lawrenceburg, right, is sponsoring House Bill 38, Feb. 12, 2025. (LRC Public Information) This story discusses domestic violence. If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. You can also contact any of Kentucky's 15 domestic violence programs. FRANKFORT — In 2022, Mary Ann Pratt woke to an attack from her now-ex-husband. He beat her and threatened to kill her, she told members of the Kentucky House Judiciary Committee. He had a loaded gun next to him, she said. Pratt eventually got free and called 911. Her attacker was arrested, and she obtained a protective order. Despite that order, she said, he repeatedly violated it — both in-person and technologically. In one instance, she said, he sat outside her house in his ankle monitor, waiting for her. 'Tip of the iceberg:' Kentucky releases domestic violence data report At one point, she said he told her 'he would kill me to the point that if I was reincarnated, I would come back as a f- – – ing abortion.' Through tears, Pratt asked committee members to support a bill that would toughen penalties for violations of protective orders in Kentucky. Court documents show the case against her alleged attacker is ongoing and that that the charges against him include violation of a protective order. Sponsored by Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, House Bill 38 would make it a Class D felony to violate a protective order on the third instance. It's currently a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a year-long sentence. The felony could increase punishment to five years. 'No one should have to be worried about being constantly harassed,' Tipton told committee members, who unanimously approved his bill. 'No one should have to live in fear of being physically harmed or possibly killed.' Some committee members questioned if current statutes on stalking would cover cases like Pratt's. Minority Floor Leader Rep. Pamela Stevenson, D-Louisville, said 'whatever rules we have on the books are not working' and that Tipton's bill would just add a layer of protection. 'When does it stop? When do I get to actually sleep? And when will my voice and everyone else's voice be heard?' Pratt asked lawmakers through tears. 'That's why I came today. I wanted to show that I'm a person, and no one should live in fear every day. I have locks on my doors, I have alarms on my windows, I have multiple cameras up. … I carry a gun. I never thought I would be that person, but it's the only way I can see to save myself, if I have to.' HB 38 can go to the House floor for a full chamber vote now, then, if it passes there, head to the Senate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
