News Source: Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller
PHOENIX, AZ — March 19, 2025 — Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller testified in favor of protecting children from online predators. A new bill that increases penalties for luring minors for sexual purposes has successfully passed out of the House Judiciary Committee and is now moving forward in the legislative process. The proposed legislation would impose harsher consequences on offenders who use the internet or other digital platforms to target minors.
Sponsored by Senator Janae Shamp, the bill aims to ensure that individuals convicted of luring children online face significantly increased penalties, including mandatory prison time.
“This legislation sends a clear message: If you attempt to exploit a child online for sexual purposes, you will face severe consequences,” said Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller, who championed the bill and brought the issue to Senator Shamp. It is important for Arizonans to know, currently under Arizona law, these predators are eligible for probation. I’m encouraged that lawmakers are showing that our state is committed to protecting our most vulnerable and ensuring that predators who wish to do harm to children, receive significant prison time.”
Currently, Arizona law criminalizes the luring of minors for sexual exploitation, but this bill qualifies them as crimes against children, making prison mandatory.
“We see firsthand how online predators manipulate and groom children, in the most recent sting operations conducted by the Apache Junction Police Department,” said County Attorney Miller. “In that operation, 14 individuals came from across Arizona thinking they were going to perform sex acts on children. One brought a gun, one had a bed in his vehicle, and some brought toys. This bill ensures that people who commit these crimes go to prison.” County Attorney Miller wants to thank law enforcement officers who work diligently on these cases to bring these predators to justice and looks forward to partnering with agencies on this effort.
The measure’s passage out of the House Judiciary Committee marks a critical step forward. The Pinal County Attorney is looking forward to a full vote in the House and for the Governor to sign this bill into law. SB1585 passed unanimously out of the Senate on March 4, 2025. The passing of SB1585 will ensure Arizona remains at the forefront of protecting children from online exploitation.
The Pinal County Attorney’s Office is dedicated to prosecuting criminals, promoting justice, to ensure public safety throughout the county. Led by Brad Miller, a seasoned prosecutor with over 17 years of experience, the office is defined by its commitment to integrity and excellence. Brad Miller brings a distinguished record of public service to the role, including his tenure as a prosecutor in the Sex Crimes Bureau of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and his service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. With a staff of over 180 professionals, the office prosecutes more than 2,500 felonies and 1,000 misdemeanors annually and provides over 25,000 services to crime victims, standing as the cornerstone of justice for Pinal County.
