New Florida law: Prosecutors want death penalty for vicious child molesters

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It was “one of the worst cases” he had ever seen in his thirty years of professional experience. This is what Sheriff Peyton Grinnell from Lake County, Florida says about Joseph Giampa (36).

The man has been in prison since last month because he raped a girl under the age of twelve in his mobile home and filmed himself doing so. In the film you see how he initially orders the girl to take off her clothes and eventually forces her to put on a costume including bunny ears. Then he abuses her in the worst way.

“Full support for the death penalty”

Authorities have not revealed his relationship with the girl. But the crimes are so serious that prosecutor William Gladson now wants to seek the death penalty for Giampa. He has submitted a corresponding declaration of intent. Sheriff Grinnell said: “The prosecutor has my full support in seeking the death penalty for this monster.”

It would be the first case ever in Florida in which a child molester was sentenced to death. The prosecutors cite a new law that was put into effect on October 1 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (45). This extended the death penalty to sexual crimes against children.

It could be a matter for the Supreme Court

In a statement, District Attorney Gladson’s office noted the “seriousness of the crime and its impact on the community.” What makes Giampa’s case even more difficult is that the crime was committed for financial reasons and was particularly heinous and brutal.

Whether Giampa can actually be executed for this will likely be a matter for the U.S. Supreme Court. In a precedent-setting 1977 case, this law prohibited the death penalty for rape as long as the victim remained alive. When the US state of Louisiana wanted to execute child molester Patrick Kennedy in 2008, the Supreme Court stopped the plan.

Criminal law expert Stephen Harper tells the Tampa Bay Times that it would look very ugly if the Supreme Court were to overturn Kennedy v. Louisiana. “To be legitimate, the Supreme Court must uphold previous decisions even if the current members of the court disagree with them.” (neo)

Source: Blick