State Rep. Peter Koutoujian said the House will work quickly to close a legal loophole that led the state’s high court Friday to overturn the conviction of man accused of sending sexually explicit messages to a minor.
“I’m concerned about how many other cases may be overturned based on this decision,” said Koutoujian, D-Waltham. “So we need to act pretty quickly to protect our children.”
Matthew Zubiel of Beverly was convicted in 2007 of attempting to disseminate harmful material to a minor after being arrested in Marshfield the year before.
Authorities said Zubiel thought he was going to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex after sending her sexually explicit instant messages.
The girl was really a Plymouth County Deputy Sheriff.
Zubiel's attorney argued instant messages were not illegal because state law bans only printed material, handwritten or "visual representations”, but not typewritten words.
The Supreme Judicial Court agreed, and in a unanimous decision Friday said only the Legislature could expand the law to include instant messaging.
For more on this story, pick up the Monday, Feb. 8, Daily News Tribune.
