By State Rep. Brent Jacobson

On April 23, I joined Rep. Pat Snyder, Sen. Jesse James, and the family of Bradyn Bohn to testify in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Bradyn’s Law, a bill which would give our state more tools to tackle sextortion.
As many of you know, our community was recently struck with the tragic death of 15 year-old Bradyn Bohn. Bradyn was tricked by thugs pretending to be someone his own age into sharing revealing images. Once they had them, the criminals used the threat of sharing those images to extort Bradyn for money. Although he paid them, these perpetrators were relentless. Feeling he had no other choice, Bradyn sadly took his own life.
Unfortunately, Bradyn’s case is not unique. The Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received 237 reports of sextortion last year alone. The FBI reported 13,000 cases of minors being targeted with sextortion between October 2021 and March 2023, with at least 20 of those cases resulting in suicide.

Bradyn’s Law creates the crime of sexual extortion in state statute. Additionally, Bradyn’s Law allows for an individual who commits sextortion to be charged with felony murder if their victim dies as a result. By taking these crimes seriously and ensuring victims’ families see justice, Wisconsin will send a clear message to those who would threaten and prey upon our children to stay out of our state. Finally, Bradyn’s Law allows victims of sextortion and their families to be eligible for payment from the Department of Justice’s crime victim compensation fund.

Bradyn’s mother Brittney, as well as the rest of Bradyn’s family, made the trip to Madison to testify on Bradyn’s Law and show their support. I want to thank everyone who made the trip to share Bradyn’s story and explain why Wisconsin must pass this bill. Bradyn’s law has received broad, bipartisan support, and I look forward to moving it through the legislature and to the Governor’s desk!