{"id":513646,"date":"2018-02-01T21:11:01","date_gmt":"2018-02-02T04:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=513646"},"modified":"2018-02-01T21:11:01","modified_gmt":"2018-02-02T04:11:01","slug":"teens-death-dominates-legislative-hearing-on-fatal-child-abuse-penalty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2018\/02\/teens-death-dominates-legislative-hearing-on-fatal-child-abuse-penalty\/","title":{"rendered":"Teen’s death dominates legislative hearing on fatal child abuse penalty"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Monique

Gabriela Campos \/ The New Mexican<\/p>

Children Youth and Families Department Cabinet secretary Monique Jacobson speaks Thursday on behalf of House Bill 100, which would make intentional child abuse resulting in death a first-degree felony that carries a life sentence, regardless of a child’s age.<\/p><\/div>\n

State lawmakers did not know Jeremiah Valencia during his short, tormented life.<\/p>\n

But 13-year-old Jeremiah’s death dominated debate at a lengthy legislative hearing\u00a0Thursday<\/span><\/span>. At issue was a bill to make intentional child abuse resulting in death a first-degree felony that carries a life prison sentence, regardless of a child’s age.<\/p>\n

Under current state law on child abuse, life sentences can only be given to defendants who intentionally kill a child younger than 12. Someone who abuses and kills a child between 13 and 18 can receive a sentence of up to 18 years.<\/p>\n