New child porn law carries mandatory minimum

A former University of Wisconsin-Madison doctoral student is about to go to prison under a new wrinkle in a state law that bans child pornography.

The revision has been on the books since April. It requires Wisconsin judges in nearly all cases to sentence those convicted of possessing child pornography to three years in prison, putting teeth into what was just a strong suggestion.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported 31-year-old Jay Babcock on Monday will become Dane County’s first defendant to be sentenced under the new law. So far, three men in other counties have been sent to prison under the new law.

Rep. Mark Honadel, R-South Milwaukee, sponsored the mandatory penalty, which passed with bipartisan support. He said judges were letting too many offenders stay out of prison.