Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) demanded that the Senate pass his bipartisan Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment (CSAFE) Act on social media in response to a news story about a former Prescott teacher pleading guilty to exploiting minors online.
The Case
The story Rep. Biggs highlighted concerns Scott Miller, a former teacher at Prescott High School, who recently pleaded guilty to one count of sexually exploiting a minor online and two counts of attempted exploitation.
Miller came under investigation by Prescott authorities after an undercover Department of Homeland Security (DHS) account received child sexual abuse material (CSAM) traced to the area.
He is expected to serve his full sentence with no possibility of parole and must go on the sex offender registry.
Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane, who prosecuted the case, wanted the death penalty, saying, "While I believe the death penalty is an appropriate punishment for anyone who chooses to sexually harm a child, Arizona law does not yet allow that."
Rep. Biggs' Call to Action
"I worked with the White House and the FBI in drafting the Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment (CSAFE) Act to ensure law enforcement has clear statutory authority to pursue offenders exploiting children online," Rep. Biggs posted on X, adding, "The bill passed unanimously out of the U.S. House earlier this year."
The Arizona congressman further emphasized that "it's time for the U.S. Senate to pass this legislation to protect our children. Not one more boy or girl should be exploited or harmed due to the Senate's refusal to do its job."
Biggs' CSAFE bill strengthens federal penalties for online predators who coerce minors into acts of self-harm, animal abuse, suicide, and other acts of degradation or abuse. Specifically, the minimum sentence for coercing minors into such acts is ten years, which is raised to twenty if serious bodily harm occurs. If a victim dies, the perpetrator is sentenced to life.
The House passed the legislation in January, but it has not advanced in the Senate.
