No Social Networks for Sex Offenders in California?

Anaheim - Anaheim Assemblyman Jose Solorio, D-Anaheim, and other politicians and law enforcement officials today touted proposed legislation that would prohibit registered sex offenders from joining social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook.

Solorio is sponsoring the legislation with fellow Democratic Assembly member Norma Torres of Pomona.

"We're giving law enforcement a powerful new tool" to punish sexual predators who prey on children online, Solorio said at a news conference that also featured San Francisco District Attorney Kamala D. Harris and Santa Ana police Chief Paul Walters.

"What is exciting about this legislation is it establishes rules that don't exist," Harris said.

If state lawmakers approve the bill, registered sex offenders could face up to a year in jail if convicted of joining a prohibited social networking site.

Previous attempts at similar legislation have failed, Solorio acknowledged, but said he believes the latest attempt will succeed, because it would be considered a local crime. Violators would be housed in county jails, and incarceration would not directly cost the state anything.

Solorio also believes the legislation can pass constitutional muster, saying it would be like prohibiting convicted federal felons from owning a gun.

"We think children have constitutional rights too," Solorio said, adding the legislation can survive a constitutional challenge because it strictly defines who is barred from the sites.

"We think we have a narrow enough focus on who we're covering," Solorio said. "We're targeting people who have committed known crimes."

Solorio and Torres pointed out a few cases recently of sex crimes involving children who were contacted by their alleged attackers through social networking sites. Solorio noted Matthew Castaneda of Anaheim was charged last month with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he allegedly met on MySpace in November. Castaneda is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.