THE HOUSE CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE THURSDAY AFTERNOON HEARS BABY BRIANNA’S LAW. HOUSE BILL 100 WOULD REMOVE AGE RESTRICTIONS IN THE CURRENT LAW THAT GIVES A MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCE TO ANYONE WHO INTENTIONALLY ABUSES OR NEGLECTS A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 12. EXPANDING THE MEASURE WOULD MAKE ALL ACTS OF INTENTIONAL CHILD ABUSE OR DEATH PUNISHABLE WITH A LIFE SENTENCE REGARDLESS OF HOW OLD THE CHILD WAS.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME STATE REP SARAH MAESTAS BARNES HAS INTRODUCED THE BILL IN SANTA FE. HAD IT BEEN PASSED EARLIER, IT WOULD HAVE APPLIED TO THE SUSPECTS CHARGED IN THE RECENT KILLING OF 13 YEAR OLD JEREMIAH VALENCIA. HIS MOTHER, 35 YEAR OLD TRACY ANN PENA, 42 YEAR OLD THOMAS WAYNE FERGUSON, AND HIS SON JORDAN NUNEZ.
