Missouri lawmakers hear testimony on bills targeting child grooming
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) - Missouri lawmakers held a key hearing on two bills designed to protect children from online predators and grooming.
Sophie’s Law targets the grooming of minors, making it a serious felony. If sexual conduct is involved, the penalty increases to a Class A felony. The bill also addresses nonconsensual sharing of private sexual images, ensures victims receive restitution, and calls for public guidance on recognizing grooming.
Jeff Dixon, Sophie’s father, stressed the bill’s importance because the current law failed to protect his daughter.
“But I still have a 51-year-old man, now 52 -- older than me, that has texted my daughter 17,000 times and tried to convince her to run away to Florida to marry him,” Dixon said. “That’s the pattern, and that’s why this bill is important, because everything he did, because there is no rape, there is no dirty pictures, there is no sex -- everything he did was legal.”
Evan’s Voice Act addresses sextortion
Lawmakers also heard emotional testimony for Evan’s Voice Act, which honors Aurora teen Evan Boettler, who died by suicide after online extortion.
The bill creates the offense of sexually extorting a minor. Current law provides that the offense of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images is a class D felony. This act provides that such offense shall be a class C felony when the image was of a minor or of a vulnerable person.
Evan’s parents say the problem affects more families than most realize. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports online enticement saw a 300% increase in sextortion in just two years through 2023.
“After losing Evan, we learned just how widespread the crime had become. Sextortion is one of the fastest-growing crimes against children, especially teen boys,” the Boettlers said. “These numbers matter, but what matters more is the reality behind them. This is a growing crime, and it’s targeting our kids, and it’s devastating our families. This is about protecting our kids, your kids, your grandkids, and the vulnerable youth in every community across Missouri.”
Broader awareness needed
State Rep. Jamie Gragg, who attended the hearing, said he wishes the bills had reached a larger audience to spark conversation about their importance.
“We had people there in the audience in the gallery listening. We heard them speaking and giving their personal testimony, whether it was the moms and dads telling us about their children, or we had the young folks who had to live with this, who had been groomed. We heard them. But you’re right, this is a bigger problem, this is a bigger issue,” Gragg said. “This is something I would like to have a lot more people hear.”
Both bills will return to the committee for review. A hearing for Evan’s Voice Act is scheduled in the state Senate on Jan. 21. This is a growing crime, and it’s targeting our kids, and it’s devastating our families.
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