Bill addressing Oklahoma sodomy ruling heads to governor

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A measure aimed at fixing a loophole in Oklahoma's forcible sodomy law has received final legislative approval.

The Senate voted 39-5 on Monday to approve the bill that was introduced after criminal charges were dropped against a 17-year-old boy accused of forcing a heavily intoxicated girl to perform oral sex. The bill now heads to the governor's desk.

Oklahoma's highest criminal court upheld the dismissal of charges, saying in a unanimous ruling earlier this year that while Oklahoma's rape law addresses unconscious or intoxicated victims, the forcible sodomy law does not.

State Sen. A.J. Griffin says his bill also expands the definitions of sexual assault and consent to bring Oklahoma statutes in line with those in numerous other states.

House Bill 2398 states changes such as:

"Clarifies that the crime of sodomy can be committed against a person who is at the time unconscious of the nature of the act or is intoxicated by a narcotic or anesthetic agent by the accused as a means of forcing the person to submit."

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Online:

House Bill 2398: http://bit.ly/1TtPx8t

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The Gayly - 5/23/2016 @ 4:16 p.m. CDT