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Where Valley Lawmakers Stand on Punishing Seekers of Teens for Sex
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 months ago on
May 1, 2025

California Democrats, like Joaquin Arambula (left) and Esmeralda Soria, were divided over a bill that would make paying 16- or 17-year-olds for sex a felony offense. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

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Valley lawmakers are split on whether it should be a felony to purchase a 16- or 17- year-old for sex.

The state Assembly heard AB 379, which has divided Democrats.

Gov. Gavin Newsom was among many Democrats to support making it a felony. But leadership insisted on making changes.

The anti-sex-trafficking bill proposed by Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, a former prosecutor, would have made it a felony to pay 16- and 17-year-olds for sex.

Democratic Assembly leaders forced Krell to remove the provision to allow her anti-sex-trafficking bill to be heard in the Assembly Public Safety committee. The stripped version passed earlier this week.

Republicans forced a vote on the Assembly floor Thursday, which would have added 16- and 17-year-olds back to the bill.

Democrats countered with amendments to remove Krell as an author, and only state “It is the intent of the legislature to adopt the strongest laws to protect 16- and-17-year-old victims and strengthen protections in support of survivors of human traffickers,” Eytan Wallace of Nexstar reported.

A vote on those amendments passed, 55-21, but some Democrats sided with Republicans. Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, voted against the rest of his party, saying “I stand with Maggy. The bill should have been heard in its original form.”

Esmeralda Soria, D-Fresno, a co-author of AB 379, voted for the amendments. Her office did not respond to a request for an explanation.

Other Valley Assemblymembers — David Tangipa, R-Clovis, Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, Stan Ellis, R-Bakersfield, and Jasmeet Bains, D-Delano — voted against the Democratic leadership amendments.

“Any sane person knows that purchasing a 16-year-old girl for sex should be a felony. How is this a debate?” Bains said.

Esparza Favors Felonies for Teen Sex Seekers

Soria is running for state Senate next year. Her opponent said seeking sex from teens should be a felony.

Nelson Esparza, a Fresno city councilmember running for state Senate District 14, agreed with the minority position.

“It should absolutely be a felony. The state legislature should be clear and unequivocal that it’s a felony when a minor, whether 17 or 12, is targeted by predators,” said Esparza, D-Fresno.

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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