Achadjian to lead effort to change rape law
January 7, 2013
Katcho Achadjian
Central Coast Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian plans to introduce a bill that would expand the definition of rape to include impersonating the victim’s boyfriend, fiancé or significant other. [LA Times]
Last week, a California state appeals court overturned the rape conviction of a Los Angeles County man who had sex with a woman while pretending to be her boyfriend. The woman, who was in a dark bedroom at the time, resisted when she realized the man was not her boyfriend.
The 2nd District Court of Appeal asked the legislature to change the 1872 rape statute it used to overturn the conviction.
Achadjian, who introduced a similar bill in 2011, plans to introduce a new bill that would reverse the impersonation clause from the 1872 law. Achadjian’s previous bill lost support in the Senate Public Safety Committee due to a policy of shelving legislation that could increase state prison overcrowding.
Assembly Speaker John Perez said he would prioritize the change in the rape code in the 2013 legislative session.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who is currently suing the San Luis Obispo County air district over its dunes Dust Rule, said the Los Angeles case consisted of a “non-consensual assault” and met the general definition of rape.
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