A proposal to expand the New Mexico's "three-strikes" law for sentencing habitual offenders has cleared another hurdle.
The House Judiciary Committee voted 7-4 on Tuesday in favor of the bill filed by Rep. Paul Pacheco.
The Albuquerque Republican says the current "three-strikes" law in New Mexico includes crimes that already can result in life sentences and is so narrow that no one has been convicted under it since it was enacted two decades ago.
His proposed changes to the three-strikes law would add new crimes to the list that make defendants with at least three prior convictions eligible for life sentences, including voluntary and involuntary manslaughter.
Democrats say they were concern the bill as written would target nonviolent offenders.
The bill now goes before the full GOP-controlled House.
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