MO HB535

Repeals and re-enacts twelve sections of Missouri law (556.061, 558.026, 566.030, 566.032, 566.034, 566.060, 566.062, 566.064, 566.067, 566.068, 566.083, and 566.212) relating to sexual offenses against children.

Enhances penalties for rape, sodomy, and statutory rape offenses when the victim is a child less than twelve years of age, requiring life imprisonment without parole eligibility until defendant serves at least thirty years or reaches age seventy-five with fifteen years served, unless the offense involves torture or depravity of mind (which requires life without any parole eligibility).

Upgrades child molestation charges to class A felonies when the defendant has a prior conviction for any offense under the sexual offenses chapter or when the victim is less than twelve years old and the offense involves serious physical injury, deadly weapons, or ritual/ceremony.

Adds incest convictions under section 568.020 as an aggravating factor that elevates penalties across multiple sexual offense statutes, including statutory rape, child molestation, sexual misconduct involving a child, and sexual trafficking of a child.

Requires sentences for rape, forcible rape, sodomy, forcible sodomy, and statutory rape in the first degree to run consecutively to other sentences imposed for crimes committed during or at the same time as those offenses.