An arrest linked to a newly-enacted grooming law in Mississippi has been announced.
Law enforcement in Meridian took Dennis Palmer into custody on Wednesday. He was wanted on charges of grooming a child and procurement of sexual servitude of a minor. The Laudale County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Meridian Police Department in making the arrest.
While specific details in the case remain slim, Palmer has been given a bond of $1 million. His arrest marked the first of its kind in Meridian under the new law.
Last year, House Bill 1308 was passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Tate Reeves. The legislation established a felony charge for those 21 and older convicted of grooming a child. Grooming occurs when an adult coerces children into engaging in sexually explicit behavior.
Under the law, perpetrators found guilty of grooming could face between two and 10 years in prison, along with a possible fine of up to $10,000. The charge of grooming would also apply to an adult who intentionally lures a minor away from his or her parents with nefarious motives.
