Assemblywoman Paulin Responds to Child Pornography Found in Scarsdale

In response to a report on Scarsdale10583.com last week about child pornography scattered on a Scarsdale lawn, Assemblywoman Paulin sent the following about her proposed legislation (A803 and A760) that would increase penalties against pedophiles.

(From Paulin’s Office) The bills seek to make a distinction between those who make and distribute child pornography, and those who view it. While maintaining strict penalties to the viewer, the bills will lead to harsher penalties for those who create and distribute the material.

The bill, A803, would permit prosecution of internet pedophiles in proportion to the scale and danger of their criminal activity.

The other bill, A760, would create two different classes of the felony promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child. Increasing the felony class will help increase penalties to the worst offenders.

Over the past decade, explosive growth in computer disk storage and internet technology has enabled pedophiles to store and disseminate large collections of child pornography. They can now use sophisticated trade-or-profit based mechanisms to increase their distribution.

According to Scarsdale10583.com, police arrived at a Scarsdale home on Jan. 6 when a homeowner called to report photographs of child pornography that appeared on his property. Police searched the area and found five additional images. The materials were taken to the Westchester County Crime Lab for DNA testing.

“These bills are urgently required to help law enforcement keep up with catching perpetrators of child pornography in the face of ever-changing technology,” said Assemblywoman Paulin, “Now that our bill has a Senate sponsor (Sen. Jeff Klein) we are in a good position for getting it passed during this session.”

The bills also aim to use a graduated scheme for punishing those who commit child pornography offenses. This will be consistent with other New York statutes governing distribution and possession of contraband, as well as federal statues regarding child pornography.

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore supports Paulin’s bills. According to the D.A.,"In order to keep up with increasingly sophisticated computer technology, we in the law enforcement community need tools that allow us to keep pace with offenders who store volumes of child pornography on their computers. These new laws will allow police and prosecutors to hold promoters or those who possess child pornography more appropriately accountable for the quantity of material found in their possession. And as a result, we will be in a better position to protect young children from those who wish to take advantage of them in this way."