Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a pair of bills passed by the Florida Legislature to increase penalties for dangerous crimes and sexual offenses while speaking in Tampa this week.
House Bill 445 (Dangerous Crimes)
HB 455, known as "Missy's Law," requires a judge to immediately revoke bond and hold defendants in custody after being convicted of dangerous, violent, or sexual crimes. The law is named after Melissa "Missy" Mogle, a 5-year-old allegedly murdered by her stepfather, Daniel Spencer, after he was let out on bond by Leon County Judge Tiffany Baker despite a conviction and awaited sentencing for trying to meet a minor for sex, and state prosecutors asking Baker to revoke his bail.
Spencer's trial on charges related to Missy's death is scheduled for June.
"He [Spencer] murdered Missy, totally preventable, a miscarriage of justice, a dereliction of judicial duty," DeSantis said.
Gov. DeSantis also suggested the Legislature impeach Judge Baker for failing to revoke Spencer's bond and protect Missy.
"Until we start holding these judges accountable, they are going to continue to find ways to benefit the criminal element," DeSantis said. "This was an outrage. This was such an easy call to make sure that this guy was put behind bars, and this judge refused to do it, knowing the risks, and the result is obviously been a tragedy."
Rep. Sam Greco (R-St. Augustine) sponsored the bill in the House, and Sen. Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) sponsored a similar bill in the Senate.
The law will go into effect on July 1, 2026.
House Bill 1159 (Sexual Offenses)
HB 1159 increases penalties for possessing and distributing child sex abuse material, including AI-generated material, by establishing a 25-year mandatory minimum for a person 18 years or older convicted of sexual performance of a minor under twelve, a 15-year mandatory minimum for a person 18 years or older convicted of using a minor in a sexual performance, and a five-year mandatory minimums for adults promoting sexual performance of a minor or transmistting child sex abuse material.
"This bill increases penalties for using a child, which some of these people do, and it's really, really disgusting," DeSantis said.
Rep. Berny Jacques (R-Seminole) sponsored the bill in the House, and Sen. Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) sponsored a comparable bill in the Senate.
The law will go into effect on July 1, 2026.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined Gov. DeSantis at the press conference.
"Stay away from our kids. If you want to lay a finger on one of our kids, if you want to exploit them, photograph them, molest and abuse them, we will come after you in Florida with everything that we've got," the attorney general declared.
