Carter pushes bill to restrict sex offenders' Internet use

Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter is urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would make it illegal for convicted sex offenders to use social networking Web sites frequented by children, such as MySpace.com.

Carter says the bill carries tougher penalties for sex offenders who contact children via such sites. He urged support for it last week during visits around the state.

The proposal would make it a crime punishable by six months to three years in prison for someone listed on the state sex offender registry to use a social networking Web site. If the person contacted a child on the site, the penalty could be two to eight years.

Carter says four other states have enacted similar laws. The Indiana House will hold a hearing on the legislation this week.