Child enticement penalties pass

Senators gave final approval May 5 to a bill that updates the state’s criminal child enticement law.

LB665, introduced by Sen. Pete Pirsch of Omaha, prohibits attempts to solicit, coax, entice or lure a child under the age of 14 to enter a place intending to seclude him or her from a parent, guardian, legal custodian or the general public, whether or not the person knows the age of the child.

Current law prohibits only the luring of a child into a vehicle.

Violations will be a Class IIIA felony. If a perpetrator has been previously convicted of criminal child enticement, assault or sexual assault of a child, or kidnapping or false imprisonment of a victim younger than 18, he or she could be guilty of a Class III felony.

The bill passed on a 45-0 vote.