JACKSON, Tenn. (AP) -- A Jackson police officer is being credited with helping change a state law that deals with stricter penalties for sex offenders.
Investigator Mark Headen says he became mad when he learned that a violent sex offender was again suspected of stalking women.
The Jackson Sun reports that Headen proposed a state amendment to increase indecent exposure and stalking charges to Class E felonies punishable by up to six years in prison if the crime is committed by a registered sex offender.
Before Headen worked to change the law, anyone charged with indecent exposure would be charged with a Class B misdemeanor punishable with a maximum 30 days in jail, while a stalking charge was a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of 11 months and 29 days.