OLYMPIA, Wash. – A new bill under consideration in Olympia could impact those convicted in Net Nanny operations involving fictitious minors.
SB 5312 proposes to reduce the sex offender registration requirement for individuals convicted in these operations to five years, provided they have no prior sex offense or kidnapping convictions.
It also seeks to shorten the community supervision period to three years for those sentenced to an indeterminate sentence and released by the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board.
Net Nanny operations, as described by the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force, are Internet sting operations designed to catch adults attempting to solicit minors online. Between 2015 and 2023, these operations resulted in 311 arrests.
Supporters of the bill including prime sponsor Sen. Lisa Wellman and several advocacy groups are expected to argue that the current system imposes excessive penalties on first-time offenders, especially when no real children are involved.
Opponents, however, expressed concerns that the proposed reductions are too severe and that the bill’s language is too vague and may not adequately address all cases.
The bill is scheduled for a first reading Senate Committee on Law & Justice on January 16 along with a public hearing on January 27.
For a complete breakdown of the proposed sentencing recommendations for Class A, Class B and Class C felonies involving offenders caught in sting operations with fictitious minors, visit SB 5312.
