melbo
04-11-2005, 07:40 PM
PHOENIX The state House today approved a bill to toughen the penalties in cases of spousal rape _ a crime that now carries a softer penalty than nonspousal rape under Arizona law.
The House's 52-to-5 vote sends the bill back to the Senate for consideration of changes made by the House. The Senate approved its version two months ago.
State law currently treats rape by a spouse as the lowest possible felony, punishable by up to one and a-half years in prison. The rape law for all other defendants includes a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Along with eliminating the sentencing distinction between spousal and nonspousal rape, the bill also makes it a misdemeanor to falsely and intentionally report a spousal rape.
The House's 52-to-5 vote sends the bill back to the Senate for consideration of changes made by the House. The Senate approved its version two months ago.
State law currently treats rape by a spouse as the lowest possible felony, punishable by up to one and a-half years in prison. The rape law for all other defendants includes a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Along with eliminating the sentencing distinction between spousal and nonspousal rape, the bill also makes it a misdemeanor to falsely and intentionally report a spousal rape.