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 Abuse
Bill 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 new
legislation to strengthen laws regarding persistent sexual abuse. The bill ensures that any
time 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 sex
crimes 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 the
legislation 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 their
actions. 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 their
crimes."

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
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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