'Megan's Law' Killer Found Guilty

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TRENTON, N.J.: A jury found repeat sex offender Jesse Timmendequas guilty of the murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka. After only four hours of deliberations, jurors found Timmendequas guilty of kidnapping, four counts of aggravated sexual assault and two felony murder counts. Timmendequas could receive either the death penalty or 30 years to life in prison. The case received national attention after it was discovered that Timmendequas, who brutally beat and raped the young girl before killing her, had a record of sex crimes against children. The resulting outcry inspired New Jersey's 'Megan's Law' requiring that communities be notified when sex offenders move in. Versions the law have been adopted in New Jersey and other states, and President Clinton last year signed a federal version. Court challenges have kept the New Jersey law from being enforced most of the time since it was enacted in 1994.