Jessica's Law

Who was Jessica Lunsford?

Jessica's family says:

"Jessie was all girl. She loved purple and pink. She watched the Disney Channel all the time and had a collection of Disney videos. She especially loved 'The Princess Diaries.' Oh, did that girl love clothes too! Especially skorts and capri pants.

"Jessie and her friend, Tiffany, liked to do cheer leading and gymnastics together. 'She liked doing cartwheels — I taught her to do that,' Tiffany said. 'We used to play on my tire swing, but it made us dizzy so we stopped.'

"She liked music, Celine Dion and Lil' Romeo. She loved to sing. She always said, 'I love you.' She always wanted to go to the store with Grandpa because she knew he would buy her candy. She always, always, always gave her daddy a hug every morning. She was 'Daddy's girl.'"

Sounds like the typical nine year old girl, sweet, full of life and innocence. Although she loved life, Jessie never lived to see age ten...Jessie was murdered.

John Evander Couey, a repeat sex offender who served less than three years for a previous child sex offense broke into Jessie's home, coerced her out of her bedroom window and to his home. What happened next is a nightmare to think about let alone live through. For the next three days she was sexually assaulted, raped and tortured, and ultimately buried alive in this monsters back yard; Jessica Marie Lunsford died.

Mark Lunsford the father of Jessie turned this gut-wrenching tragedy into his life mission. Since 2005 He has toured the country pushing for tougher penalties against child predators. Never again did he want a parent to suffer as he did. Mr. Lunsford came to Utah, but found our state to be a very tough sell. Utah had a history of opposing mandatory sentences, as well as a deserved reputation for being soft on child predators.
I made this the primary issue during my election campaign in 2006. I sponsored and worked for two full years to build consensus for Jessica's law, and in February 2008 Jessica's law became Utah law.

Prior to me being elected the worst penalty a child killer could receive was a sentence of 15-years-to-life in prison. Two years later child killer's are now eligible for the death penalty. Prior to me being elected the toughest penalty for raping a child under fourteen was a pathetic 3-years-to-life with no enhancements for a second conviction. Now with your help, we have made the penalty for a first offense a minimum 25-years-to-life in prison and on a second conviction the penalty is LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE! Together with your help and support, we changed the face of Utah history.

This page is dedicated to the memory of Jessica Lunsford and the work of my friend Mark Lunsford. It is my hope that every time you hug your little ones, you will thank God you have them and work to protect them.

Rep. Carl Wimmer

Watch a 10 minute video featuring Mark Lunsford: I greet him at the S.L. Airport with two of my children.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9wMebrDmjo