Bill Would Make Lying About Missing Child a Felony
Friday, November 4, 2011
By: Tom Parkinson

Nov. 4, 2011 | WMFE - A Florida Senate panel heard a proposal Thursday that might have kept Orlando's Casey Anthony behind bars. The Senate Select Committee on Protecting Florida's Children is working on a bill that would make it a felony to mislead law enforcement officers who are searching for a missing child under the age of 17.

State Senator Joe Negron, a Republican from Stuart, proposed the bill. He said parents who lie or are uncooperative during the search for a missing child should be held responsible.

"The bottom line is, if your child is missing and you’re intentionally and willfully misleading law enforcement, that’s evil behavior and it won’t be tolerated.” Negron said. “By making it a third-degree felony, I think we’re making that statement.”

Casey Anthony was acquitted in July of charges she killed her two-year-old daughter Caylee. She was found guilty on four counts of misleading law enforcement and is currently serving probation on unrelated charges.  Under Negron’s proposal Anthony could have faced up to 20 years in prison.