Cassandra Gagnon
Brooke BennettRutland, Vermont - September 16, 2008
The mother of murder victim Brooke Bennett spoke out Tuesday night, at a hearing on changing Vermont's sex offender laws.
Cassandra Gagnon was one of about 40 people to attend the hearing in Rutland. Lawmakers are looking at what changes need to be made following the 12-year-old's death this summer. Bennett's uncle, Michael Jacques, is a registered sex offender -- and the prime suspect in the case. Gagnon told lawmakers that there needs to be more protection for kids.
"Hopefully the laws will change to the benefit of the children, because the children are the ones that need these benefits," Gagnon said. "It seems like people have said these sex offenders seem to be the victims here. I don't believe that. I believe that the children are going to be the ones that suffer the most, and my battle has just begun on this case. I just hope that things will benefit other families, because this is definitely not the way things should be. Sex offenders should be in the public eye, as evil as they are."
There will be another public hearing on sex offender laws in Burlington, on Oct. 16.
Brian Joyce - WCAX News
Click here for complete coverage of the Brooke Bennett case.
