Protecting children from sexual extortion with tougher penalties

AUSTIN (NEXSTAR) — A bill filed earlier this month by State Rep. Tony Dale, R-Cedar Park, would make sexual extortion of children a state jail felony, rather than a Class A misdemeanor.
House Bill 2974 would increase the penalty for anyone accused of blackmailing a child to send sexual content such as photos or videos, in exchange for money or sex acts.
“These crimes generally happen online,” Dale said during a press conference at the Capitol on Monday. “This bill address