MADISON, WI (WSAU) – Wisconsin Republicans are looking to introduce a bill to combat the issue of sextortion following the passing of a central Wisconsin student earlier this year.
According to a press release, Republican legislators are circulating “Bradyn’s Law,” named after D.C. Everest student Bradyn Bohn, for co-sponsorship in the State Legislature. Since Bradyn’s death, lawmakers have collaborated with his family and the State Department of Justice to draft legislation that would establish new penalties for sextortion, allow felony homicide charges to be brought against those who commit suicide as part of a sextortion scheme, and make sextortion victims or their families eligible for compensation under the DOJ’s crime victim compensation fund.
State Rep. Pat Snyder says making sextortion a class A felony, punishable by an automatic life sentence with only the possibility of parole after 20 years left to the judge’s discretion, is an appropriate punishment and deterrent. “If the sextortion leads to death by suicide, we want to elevate it. They spend the rest of their life in prison. They’ve forced someone to take their life, so they forefit their freedom. I hope that’s a strong enough message.”
State Senator Cory Tomczyk, who also co-authored the bill, said, “Tragically, what happened to Bradyn takes place regularly all across the country. This time, it hit close to home, and we lost a young member of our community. I hope this legislation makes a difference and holds those who extort vulnerable children accountable. I am honored to be part of this legislation in memory of Bradyn.”
State Rep. Brent Jacobson addressed the bill as well, saying, “I am deeply saddened that Central Wisconsin lost a child so young who felt he was forced into an impossible choice by thugs. This bill sends a message to those who would threaten or extort our children to stay out of Wisconsin, and it gives law enforcement and prosecutors new tools to bring justice to victims and families. I look forward to Bradyn’s Law gaining wide bipartisan support and being signed into law.”
Snyder crafted the bill with Bohn’s family, D.C. Everest School Leaders, and Attorney General Josh Kaul, all of whom support the measure. In a statement, Bradyn’s mother spoke about the bill saying, “We’re just so glad for the support of Pat Snyder who got this going, and we’re still out here trying our best to stop it from happening to someone else.” A committee hearing on the bill has been scheduled for April 23rd at the Capitol.
The FBI has issued a warning about a rise in incidents of online sextortion, especially from organizations like “764,” which are active both domestically and internationally. According to data from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), the NCMEC received 26,718 reports of financial sextortion in 2023, up from 10,731 reports in 2022.
Comments