This is a press release courtesy of Wash. Sen. Don Benton's office

Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, won a three-year battle today on behalf of a young Clark County girl who was murdered after a loophole in the state’s “Three Strikes You’re Out” law set her killer free from a life sentence.

“This is a landmark day for me and the citizens of Washington,” Benton said. “I’ve worked three years for this. It is a very good example of why you can’t give up, why you have to follow your conscience and do what’s right.”

When Benton first introduced the Chelsea Harrison Act in 2006, the bill died in committee. In 2007, he got the bill through the Senate twice as amendments to other crime bills, but the amendments were stripped off in the House.

This year, “The Chelsea Harrison Act” (Senate Bill 6184) was the first bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee to get a public hearing; and the first bill to be given a “do pass” recommendation from the committee.

SB 6184 passed the Senate unanimously and on a vote of 92-2 in the House.

“I think everyone in our area knows about the Chelsea Harrison tragedy,” Benton said. “Her killer, Roy Wayne Russell, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, but got out on appeal because one of his ‘Three Strikes’ crimes was committed in Arizona. That’s when he murdered Chelsea.”

SB 6184 adds to Washington’s “Three Strikes You’re Out” law any felony crime conviction in another state with a finding of sexual motivation if the minimum sentence imposed was 10 years or more.

“This is day of justice for Chelsea,” Benton said. “While this new law won’t bring Chelsea back, but it will save another child’s life.”