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Rep. Jesse MacLachlan
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State Senator Arthur Linares (R-33) and Representative Jesse MacLachlan (R-35) affirmed their support of
SB 1041, An Act Concerning GPS Monitoring Of Convicted Persons Awaiting Sentencing For Aggravated Sexual Assault. The bill was before the legislature’s Judiciary Committee for a public hearing.
In written
testimony, Sen. Linares said that although he submitted the bill,
ownership of it truly belongs to one of his constituents, a victim of
aggravated sexual assault. Jordan Ledyard asked for the legislation
to be submitted because her assailant, who admitted his guilt and was
then convicted, was allowed to remain free until sentencing and became a
fugitive from justice.
Ms. Ledyard also attended the public hearing to advocate for the bill.
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| Sen. Linares (file photo) |
“You will be
outraged to hear how she and her family lived in fear, never knowing
when and where this man might reappear and if he would seek revenge
against his victim,” Sen. Linares testimony said. “The
situation, essentially, re-victimized this young woman and her family.
“Thankfully, her assailant eventually was caught and jailed.”
Sen. Linares said he
was impressed by the young woman’s courage and her
determination not to
allow the crime against her to define her life. She sought him out to
sponsor the bill before the committee.
“She wanted to ensure that no other sexual assault victim would endure what she has and I wholeheartedly agree,” he wrote.
Rep. MacLachlan
joined Ms. Ledyard as she testified on behalf SB 1041, telling her story
to the members of the committee. He took over reading her testimony
when she was overcome by emotion.
The testimony
expressed the young woman’s frustration with a criminal justice system
that allowed her admitted assailant so much freedom.
“It was equally
frustrating that our request of a monitoring system was denied. This
left myself and my family feeling very unsafe,” written testimony said.
“My parents were worried to leave me home alone.
They would flex their work hours to be home when I got there because no
one ever knew where he was. He could have been in my hometown or
driving by our house for all we knew.”
When her attacker
became a fugitive, the testimony said police became a constant presence
at her home and in her neighborhood until he was finally apprehended.
The committee was
told that while the abuse could not have been prevented, what she
experience dealing with the criminal justice system did not have to
happen.
“It could have been
prevented if the court system had given him the monitoring device my
parents asked for. He fled because he did not have one,” testimony said.
Legislators on the
committee each commended the young woman. They said they were moved by
her story and the bravery she showed by coming to Hartford to share her
experience and advocate for other victims.
Rep. McLachlan commended the woman’s tenacity and her decision to publicly testify before the committee.
“Jordan’s bravery to
tell her story and to be the voice for victims of sexual assault
everywhere is truly inspirational,” said Rep. MacLachlan. “Letting
individuals roam freely, who are on trial or waiting
for a trail for sexual assault, is completely unacceptable. In these
cases, the safety of the victims should be the court's top priority, and
this legislation will provide safety to victims of sexual assault and
their families by preventing these sick individuals
from going after the victim again or trying to flee the state.”
Sen. Linares said no victims should have to experience what his constituent endured.
“The criminal
justice system is supposed to vindicate and protect the victims of
violent crime. I believe this bill will help do that,” he said.
Sen. Linares
represents the communities of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River,
East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland
and Westbrook.
Rep. McLachlan serves the communities of Clinton, Killingworth, and Westbrook.
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