Bill package supporters argue Michigan needs to do more to address so-called “sextortion”—pointing to a high-profile case of an Upper Peninsula teen who died by suicide after becoming a target as proof.
Democratic Representative John Fitzgerald is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
He says it’s about more than preventing the abuse of children.
“We are absolutely stiffening penalties if this is done to someone under the age of 18. But this is for anyone. That if anyone of any age in Michigan is being extorted, we can actually now bring forward a very stiff penalty that if this is even done one time, it is a five-year felony.”
Fitzgerald says the bills are inspired, in part, by legislation in Ohio and Georgia.
