WRKO(AM)’s Jeff Kuhner, host of Boston-focused news talk show “The Kuhner Report,” and Massachusetts State Representative Shaunna O’Connell, who has been a long-time advocate for stronger penalties for child predators, beginning with Jessica’s Law have created a legislative package called the Child Sexual Predator Prevention Act.
The proposal mandates a minimum 25-year sentence for the first offense of raping a child, a 40-year sentence for the second and life for the third conviction. Moreover, all Level 2 predators will be required to have their information posted online and will be available so the public has access.
Kuhner was inspired to take action after John Burbine was arrested for more than 100 charges of alleged rape and sexual assault of 13 children. Kuhner contacted O’Connell, 3rd Bristol House District, to help file legislation because Massachusetts currently has no mandatory sentence for first rape offense of a child although there is one for aggravated rape. Burbine’s alleged assaults might not have met the criteria of aggravated.
In a live broadcast of “The Kuhner Report,” he challenged Gov. Deval Patrick, Speaker of the Massachusetts House Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray, “How dare you not support a bill that will send a child rapist and molester convicted for 25 years to prison?”
Kuhner and WRKO have launched a petition supporting the Child Predator Prevention Act at www.WRKO.com.