LEGISLATORS PROPOSE TOUGHER CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR SOME OFFENSES

Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, has introduced a bill that requires
sentencing guidelines applied to cocaine offenses be used in cases
involving methamphetamine. Also, Del. Jackie Stump, D-Oakwood, introduced a
bill that would increase penalties for an adult who has sex with a child 15
to 17 years of age. Under House Bill 1893, the penalty for a person 18
years of age or older who has consensual sexual intercourse with a child 15
to 17 years old would increase from a class one misdemeanor to a class six
felony.

According to Virginia law, a person convicted of a class six felony faces
one to five years in jail. Or, in certain cases, a judge or jury could
impose a sentence of up to 12 months and/or a fine up to $2,500.

A person convicted of a class one misdemeanor faces a maximum of 12 months
in jail and/or a maximum $2,500 fine.

House Bill 1783 proposes modifying sentencing guidelines for
methamphetamine, an extremely potent form of the stimulant amphetamine.

According to Kilgore's proposal, discretionary sentencing guidelines
applied to cocaine cases would be used for a conviction involving any
substance that contains methamphetamine, including "its salts, isomers, and
salts of isomers."

Currently, state sentencing guidelines treat methamphetamine as any
Schedule I or II drug other than cocaine. According to state law, other
Schedule I and II drugs include opium, codeine, oxycodone and morphine.

Tougher sentencing guidelines adopted since July 1997 recommend longer jail
terms for individuals convicted of selling at least one ounce of cocaine,
according to a "fiscal impact statement" the Virginia Criminal Sentencing
Commission prepared on HB 1783.

Fiscal impact statements are documents written by state agencies,
commissions and other departments regarding the financial effects of a
particular piece of legislation.

Methamphetamine - which can be injected, snorted or smoked - reduces
appetite and increases a person's alertness and activity. The drug is often
known on the street as meth, crank, crystal meth, speed and ice.