Lt. David C. Alexander of the Ogunquit Police Department and Rep. Dawn Hill, D-York, are seen here after meeting to discuss the progress of Hill's legislation to better protect children from the crime of visual sexual aggression.
Courtesy photo
OGUNQUIT - What began last spring with an incident that raised the concern of local law enforcement officers has ended with legislation to protect children.
Rep. Dawn Hill, D-York, announced this month that she has received final support in Maine's House of Representatives for legislation she submitted to protect children against criminal sexual aggression.
The bill was submitted to close a loophole in Maine's criminal statutes that prohibits the crime of visual sexual aggression against a child in a private place but not in a public location, Hill explained.
And this new law is coming forward as the result of an incident that happened right here in town.
Hill was contacted last April by Ogunquit Police Lt. David C. Alexander following an incident in which an individual was following young boys into a public restroom at Ogunquit Beach.
Alexander shared with Hill his frustration with the inability to charge the person with the crime of visual sexual aggression against a child because the incident occurred in a public restroom rather than a private location.
"Parents should not have to fear their children using public restrooms," said Hill. "We all have a reasonable expectation of privacy in public restrooms and dressing rooms."
Following her public testimony in support of LD 2079, Hill spoke with several of Maine's district attorneys, including District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau, who serves the counties of Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox and Waldo, regarding the needed change to the statute.
Rushlau reviewed Hill's legislation and requested that she consider amending the bill to further include a similar problem in another section of Maine's criminal statutes regarding a violation of someone's privacy, such as in a public dressing room.
"It was surprising to learn that something most of us assume is a crime is not," said Hill, who added she is pleased that her fellow legislators agree that closing this loophole is an important step.
The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, on which Hill serves, amended the bill to add the provisions requested by the district attorneys and the bill is now before the Maine Senate. If passed, the next step will be for the legislation to go to Gov. John Baldacci for his approval in the upcoming weeks.
"I was pleased that Lt. Alexander brought this weakness in the law to my attention and that we could improve the criminal statutes to better protect children in our community," Hill said. "I applaud Lt. Alexander for caring enough about his duty to the public to bring this issue forward and work with me on the legislation."
Alexander, meanwhile, has praised Hill's response to his request.
"Rep. Hill championed this issue with swiftness and total success," he noted in an announcement of the bill's status. "It was a pleasure to work with her on this legislation to protect our children from those in our society who seek to exploit them."
