Walker’s Law Heads to the Governor

Many thanks to the legislators who worked with us to pass HB 1196 and send it to the Governor for his signature into law. This bill honors the life of young Walker Montgomery, who lost his life to suicide after falling prey to online predators, by creating the criminal cause of action for sextortion.

Another important bill to protect children online is currently under consideration by a legislative conference committee. This bill (HB 1126) would require that parents give their children permission to get on social media and that social media companies safeguard children’s privacy and identifying information. An important provision that would require social media companies to develop strategies to keep children from harmful materials online, like grooming by predators, promotion of self-harm and eating disorders, stalking and bullying, and glorification of drug abuse, was stripped from the bill. But I am hopeful that it will be added back by this committee and be part of a final bill that can become law.

Several states have given their parents assistance like this: Utah, Arkansas, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana. Parents, like Walker’s, need every tool to protect their children, and bills like these are important ways we can all help keep children safe online. See Walker’s father share his story here.

Holding Rankin Six Accountable

Last week, the six law enforcement officers involved in a January shooting in Rankin County were sentenced on state charges. Those charges, filed last August, and these sentences will run concurrently with the federal sentences as part of our global plea agreement.

The actions of these six men did grave harm to these two victims, Michael

Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker, and violated the trust of all the citizens they

swore to protect. These former officers also violated the trust of the other men

and women who honorably wear the uniform – every one of whom will feel the

repercussions of the mistrust they sowed between law enforcement and the

people. These criminal acts make a difficult job even harder and far more

dangerous. And it is left to us all to commit ourselves to repairing that damage.

This sentencing marks the culmination of fifteen months of model

cooperation between our Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the

Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Together we worked to ensure justice for

these victims in a horrific case of abuse. I am grateful to all the dedicated

investigators and prosecutors who worked with us to get to this point where we

can begin healing as a community in earnest. I would also like to thank Rankin

County Circuit Court Judge Steven Ratliff for his professionalism from the

bench in this very high-profile case.

Click here for more information on the charges and sentences for each former officer.

MageeNews.com is the online news source for Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi.