[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SEXUAL PREDATORS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Granger). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Lampson] is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LAMPSON. Madam Speaker, yesterday the people of Friendswood, TX, 
whose lives have been inexorably altered by the kidnapping and murder 
of 12-year-old Laura Kate Smither, saw a light at the end of their 
tunnel. Police Chief Jared Stout announced yesterday that they had a 
prime suspect who was in custody. The Friendswood police were able to 
name this suspect after his arrest for kidnapping a 19-year-old woman 
from a nearby community called Webster.
  In the case for which this suspect was arrested, he approached a 
young woman changing a flat tire and offered assistance, but as he 
approached, he pulled a knife on her and ordered her into his truck. 
This woman escaped by throwing herself out of his truck, which was 
moving down an interstate highway at 70 miles an hour sustaining 
significant injuries.
  That was not the first time this individual had attacked a woman. The 
prime suspect in the murder of Laura Smither had been sentenced on 
December 18, 1986, to a total of 28 years for convictions on charges of 
aggravated kidnapping, forcible oral sodomy, and rape. He was released 
a year ago. He served less than half of that sentence, and now this man 
has been named as the prime suspect in the slaying of Laura Smither.
  In less than a year, this individual, who had committed previous acts 
of kidnapping and violent sexual assault, has already been charged with 
aggravated kidnapping again. It is outrageous. Scientific data 
demonstrates that individuals who commit sex crimes against children 
have the highest recidivism rate of any criminal. It is irresponsible, 
if not downright negligent to release this individual back into society 
after serving only 10 years of a 28-year sentence for aggravated 
kidnapping, forcible oral sodomy and rape.
  Violence against women and children cannot be tolerated. It cannot be 
excused. It cannot be swept under the rug. Rape and sexual violence are 
not minor offenses. They are violent attacks that violate the body and 
violate the human spirit. These crimes must be punished swiftly and 
severely. An Oklahoma court tried to do that when it sentenced this man 
to 28 years in prison. But somehow in that State's criminal justice 
system someone decided that 10 years was enough for that rapist. And 
less than a year later, one 19-year-old woman had to throw herself out 
of a truck to save herself, traveling 70 miles an hour down a highway 
sustaining significant injuries, to save herself from a rapist. And 
when Chief Stout's investigation is completed, we are likely to learn 
that this individual has committed a total of three acts of aggravated 
kidnapping, one act of forcible oral sodomy and two rapes and a murder.
  We cannot lose these people in this system. Yes, this man was 
registered as a sex offender, but if he had been an incarcerated sex 
offender as he was sentenced, we might have a 12-year-old child alive 
today.
  As for Bob and Gay Smither, they may soon know for certain who took 
their little girl away never to return again. That is little solace, 
but that is what the Friendswood Police Department has worked so hard 
to accomplish since we discovered Laura's body on April 20. We thank 
and salute them and the Webster Police Department, as well. And today 
we still pray, as many did last night gathered in Stevenson Park in 
Texas. We are all still mourning, and worst of all, we must continue to 
pray for the safe return of Jessica Cain, who has kidnapped from the 
same vicinity on August 17.
  It was the way the community came together to search for Laura that 
spurred me to form the Congressional Caucus on Missing and Exploited 
Children. I am proud of the fact that 80 of our colleagues in the House 
have joined the effort to protect our children and reunite families. 
But this morning, Madam Speaker, I am frustrated and angry. Whatever we 
do here in Congress will not matter a bit if we do not punish these 
sexual predators and make them serve their full sentences in prison. 
Madam Speaker, we cannot allow more of these tragedies.

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