Florida Senate votes to shut intercourse offender loophole

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A loophole in Florida’s Sex Offender Registration Act would be closed based on a bill passed unanimously by the Senate.

Thursday’s vote was in response to a child molester who was not required to register for not paying a court-ordered fine.

A judge ruled last year that Tampa-based Ray La Vel James was not required to register as a sex offender because the law does not require registration until a verdict is complete.

James hadn’t paid a $ 10,000 fine as part of his sentence.

James spent 12 years in prison after being convicted of molesting two girls in a public swimming pool.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.