A release from the Governor’s Office w Contact Phill Leon Guerrero at 929-7467 or Phillip.Leonguerrero@Guam.gov
“Too often, criminals prey on our most vulnerable knowing they are easy targets. This new law from Sen. McCreadie protects the people who suffer senselessly: our manamko, children, the disabled, and visitors. Another law from Sen. Yamashita will protect victims who’ve had their privacy rights violated in disrespectful and disgusting ways. It takes a united effort to fight crime. From the laws we create, to the investigation into crimes, all the way to prosecution and sentencing–all of these parts of government are working together to protect our families. I will not tolerate these crimes in our community. I will not be satisfied until justice is served to our victims.” — Governor Eddie Baza Calvo
Bill to protect “vulnerable victims”
In an effort to protect the vulnerable victims criminals prey on, Governor Calvo has signed the “Vulnerable Victims Act of 2014” into law. The measure enhances sentences for individuals convicted of committing crimes against children, the elderly, the disabled, and tourists.
Introduced by Senator Brant T. McCreadie, Bill No. 272-32 defines a vulnerable victim as:
– An elderly person or senior citizen who is fifty-five years old or older at the time of the crime committed upon him or her;
– A child who is thirteen years old or younger at the time of the crime committed upon him or her;
– A tourist or visitor who is a citizen and resident of a country other than the U.S., but not a resident of Guam, and is visiting Guam with a round-trip airline ticket for a duration of no more than forty-five days;
– An individual who at the time of the crime committed upon him or her has a physical or mental disability or disabilities, as defined in a provision of local or federal law, or as certified by a physician or mental health professional; and
– Any person who is a victim of a crime, as identified in this Act, committed by two or more individuals.
Anyone convicted of a felony against a vulnerable victim shall face an additional sentence of 5 to 25 years in prison. Those convicted of misdemeanors against vulnerable victims shall receive an additional sentence of 60 days to 1 year in prison.
In addition to the stricter sentences, anyone convicted of a felony against a vulnerable victim shall not be eligible for parole until at least 5 years in prison. Misdemeanor convicts under the same law shall not be eligible for parole until at least 60 days in prison. The law additionally sets a special parole term of 3 to 5 years, in addition to any prison sentence.
Another law creates hasher penalties for ‘video voyeurs’
Another recent criminal case outlined the light penalties for criminals who are convicted of illegally recording victims for nefarious or perverse purposes. Governor Calvo also signed Bill No. 273-32 into law because this measure will update and enhance the current criminal statues for invasion of privacy and criminal voyeurism.
Sen. Aline Yamashita, the bill’s author, wrote in the legislation that victims of these crimes suffer “not only a gross and severe invasion of their privacy, but a violation of their personal and physical dignity, in addition to other psychological harm.”
Other Bills signed into law:
– Bill No. 135-32: relative to increasing the representation of the number of veterans serving on the Guam Veterans Commission, and for other purposes.
– Bill No. 183-32: relative to the privacy of employees’ personal information.
– Bill No. 207-32: relative to approving the terms and conditions of the Guam Power Authority’s revenue bonds to finance capital improvements to the island-wide power system.
– Bill No. 222-32: relative to the crimes against minors and sex offender registry.
– Bill No. 266-32: relative to renaming the Tiyan Parkway to Chalan Maga’hÃ¥ga.
– Bill No. 286-32: relative to establishing Guam History and Chamorro Heritage Day as a legal holiday of the government of Guam.
– Bill No. 289-32: relative to permitting alternative dispute resolution in contracts approved by the government of Guam Retirement Fund.
vvvvvEnd of Releasevvvvv