Senate Bill 2836

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-3-101, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PENALTY TO BE IMPOSED UPON CONVICTION FOR SEXUAL BATTERY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 97-3-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-3-101. (1) Every person who shall be convicted of sexual battery under Section 97-3-95(1)(a), (b), or (2) shall be imprisoned in the State Penitentiary for a period of not less than five (5) nor more than thirty (30) years, and for a second or subsequent such offense shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary for not less than ten (10) nor more than forty (40) years.

(2) (a) Every person who shall be convicted of sexual battery under Section 97-3-95(1)(c) who is at least eighteen (18) but under twenty-one (21) years of age shall be imprisoned for not more than five (5) years in the State Penitentiary or fined not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both;

(b) Every person who shall be convicted of sexual battery under Section 97-3-95(1)(c) who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older shall be imprisoned not more than thirty (30) years in the State Penitentiary or fined not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or both, for the first offense, and not more than forty (40) years in the State Penitentiary for each subsequent offense.

(3) Every person who shall be convicted of sexual battery under Section 97-3-95(1)(d) who is eighteen (18) years of age or older shall be imprisoned for life in the State Penitentiary or such lesser term of imprisonment as the court may determine, but not less than twenty (20) years.

(4) Every person who shall be convicted of sexual battery who is thirteen (13) years of age or older but under eighteen (18) years of age shall be sentenced to such imprisonment, fine or other sentence as the court, in its discretion, may determine.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.