OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, on Monday secured passage in the House of a bill that would add the death penalty or life without the possibility of parole as potential punishments for any person convicted of certain sexual crimes against children.

Under Senate Bill 599, an offender would not need to be convicted a second time of these specific crimes for this higher range of punishment.

Turner, who has a long career in law enforcement, said he's too often seen cases where children were sexually victimized and the perpetrator of the crime got a lesser sentence than deserved because it was the only option under the law.

"It's time to stand for our children and tell them they do not have to worry that the person who so deeply hurt them might victimize another child," Turner said. "Let's be the voice and tell these cowards that when they harm our children, we will no longer tolerate it, and they will be facing the punishment they deserve – death or a lifetime of incarceration."

Turner thanked Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, the Senate author of the bill, for running the legislation.

“There should never be a second chance offered to someone who commits a heinous sexual crime against an innocent child," Hamilton said. "This is not a mistake—it’s a monstrous, unforgivable act, and nothing can undo the devastation they cause. The only just punishment is death or life without parole, which will ensure that these predators can never reoffend. I extend my appreciation to Representative Turner for his continued collaboration on this piece of legislation and to Ryan Stephenson with the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council for his support and expertise throughout this process. Their efforts have been instrumental in advancing Senate Bill 599 and have brought us one step closer to extending this critical protection to Oklahoma’s children.”

The measure also would give a greater range of punishment for any person convicted of inappropriately touching a child under the age of 12. Instead of the 25-year term now in statute, an offender could face a term of not less than 10 years, but the amendment adds the possible punishment of life without parole or even death. Anyone convicted of forcible anal or oral sodomy, rape or rape by instrumentation of a child under 14 years of age shall now be eligible for punishment by death or by imprisonment for life without parole upon first offense.

Turner said 28% of children are sexually victimized, with those age 7 to 13 being the most vulnerable. He said three other states – Florida, Idaho and Tennessee – have adopted similar legislation, and seven additional states are running similar measures this year. 

SB599 passed the House on a vote of 80-8. It now moves back to the Senate for consideration of amendments made in the House.