Blunt Signs Bill with Changes to Crim Law; Will Kinder Aide Feltner Be Affected?

Yesterday Matt Blunt signed into law a bill intended to toughen some sex offender laws.  Among the changes to statute was one that would change a certain offense from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor.  As summarized by Senate research, the bill changes RSMo. 573.040 thusly:

Under this act, attempting to furnish pornographic materials to a minor is a Class A misdemeanor in the same manner as actually furnishing the materials to a minor. It is not an affirmative defense to prosecution that the person being furnished the pornographic material is a peace officer masquerading as a minor.

This is interesting, since furnishing pornographic materials to a minor is precisely the charge faced by former Peter Kinder and Kenny Hulshof aide Eric Feltner.  But, as noted by the Jefferson City News Tribune's Bob Watson, Feltner is faced with lesser infractions that the new law requires:

Feltner, 40, Columbia, was charged May 21 with two Class C misdemeanors - the least serious criminal charge possible in state law.

In other words, it appears as though Feltner will slip away from more serious punishment, as he'll be prosecuted by Republican Mark Richardson for "the least serious criminal charge possible" instead of for the more harsh Class A misdemeanor which the legislature and Governor apparently believe is appropriate for the crime he's committed. 

If there's a lesson in all of this, it seems to be that Missouri Republicans --while they love to talk the talk about making laws tougher on child predators and sexual offenders-- have very little stomach for actually doing so when it requires cracking down on one of their own.