MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — At the Capitol, lawmakers are considering “Bradyn’s Law,” increasing penalties for sextortion, especially if it leads to suicide.
The fast-growing cybercrime targets kids to send explicit images and extorts them for money or more content. A recent public hearing before the Assembly committee on criminal justice and public safety was emotional.
“It’s not only do we have a child, we have a family that has to deal with it and a community as well,” said Committee chair John Spiros.
The bill is named after Bradyn Bohn. The Wausau area 15-year-old died by suicide in March after being victimized by a cybercriminal.
“It’s not just, you know, one bad guy. It’s organized crime. They know what they’re doing. And there has to be a consequence that at least makes something twice about it,” said Bradyn’s mom Brittney Bird.
That consequence: making sextortion perpetrators eligible for felony murder charges if their actions result in a victim’s suicide.
