COLUMBIA — Legislation increasing the minimum punishment for people who create or share images of child sex abuse received unanimous approval Tuesday by the South Carolina Senate.
The bill would have the biggest impact on people previously convicted of a sex crime.
The 44-0 vote followed the quick adoption of one amendment.
As amended Tuesday to wrap in additional crimes, registered sex offenders would face at least a five-year prison sentence if they’re caught possessing, distributing, producing, sharing, duplicating, selling or buying images of children being sexually abused.
The sentencing floor would be 10 years for repeat offenders caught trafficking or coercing a child to participate in the production of such photos or videos.