Jack McClellan started a Web site in Washington called “Seattle-Tacoma-Everett Girl Love,” where he posted photographs of young girls in public places, which served as a directory of sorts for pedophiles.

Upon moving to Los Angeles, McClellan, 45, also created a second Web site called “Los Angeles Girl Love.” These sites, though they were taken down, are legal according to current laws. As McClellan isn’t a registered sex offender, he can’t be arrested for illegal activities.

“He is not breaking the law. There is no proof he has molested a child. That is why he could not be prosecuted,” said Cameron Smyth, a Republican California assemblyman for the 38th district, which serves Glendale, Los Angeles, Santa Clarita and Simi Valley. “People who create these sites should be prosecuted or investigated,” Smyth said.

Smyth came to speak to a child and adolescent development class at CSUN on Thursday, informing them about Assembly Bill 534, also known a the Surrogate Stalker Act. The bill would make it a misdemeanor for people like McClellan to publish information about the location of young children with the intent that another person would use the information to commit a crime against a child.

Currently, “you are committing a crime when you put a child at risk only if you are the parent or caregiver of that child,” Smyth said.

But since the bill would create a new crime, it’s being put on hold due to the current overcrowding problem in prisons.

The overcrowding “is so strong that the federal government almost released 30,000 prisoners for no reason other than it’s too crowded,” Smyth said.

Sen. Gloria Romero, the chair of the state’s Public Safety Committee, will allow Smyth a hearing about the bill by February.

“I understand her philosophy,” Romero said. “Any new crime was not moving because they were trying to resolve the issue in jail.”

“She has a teenage daughter in Los Angeles, so hopefully she is sensitive to that,” Romero said.

“When you become a parent, you get it,” Smyth said. “You don’t understand how anyone could want to do things to a child.”

Smyth received a “Professor of the Day” award by Esther Payton-Siegen for speaking in her class on Thursday.

“He took his time to come speak to my class. I’m honored for him to be here and educate them on this bill,” Payton-Siegen said.

The award was given to “remind him of this day,” Payton-Siegen said.

Smyth’s wife Lena has also become involved with the bill. Lena Smyth and other mothers concerned about their children’s safety have created the Web site, Mothers Against Sexual Predators, which is online at maspsofcalifornia.org.

Smyth wants to do “whatever is takes” to get the bill passed, he said. “An issue like this is why I got elected and ran.”

“I want to tell my kids about this when they are older,” said Smyth, who has two sons.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is “100 percent on board with the bill,” Smyth said.

Beatriz Flores, a liberal studies major and child development minor, “heard about the bill from (her) teacher and got interested,” she said.

The bill is being introduced under an urgency clause, which requires a two-thirds vote.

“If Sen. Romero will turn it loose, no one will vote against it,” Flores said. “She is the key.”

“We want to make sure we write a law that is not against the First Amendment. The First Amendment is pretty broad,” Flores said. “You can’t just ban images. The issue of images is very dicey.”

McClellan received a restraining order on Aug. 24 in California, which prevents him from being within 30 feet of schools, playgrounds and areas with children. Afterward, he moved back to Washington, but is planning to return to California.

Smyth said, “He’s coming back to Los Angeles on a bus. He has launched a Web site soliciting sex.”

McClellan has been diagnosed with a mental illness, and has been known to use marijuana regularly, Smyth said. The illness has allowed him to receive monthly public assistance checks.

“I would like to think that people would use the money that really needed it,” Smyth said. “He could legitimately argue that he is using the Web site to turn his life around and start a business.”

“I hope the senator will release some of the bills in January,” Smyth said.

“I don’t see anyone opposing this,” Smyth said.

“We kept it narrow enough so it does not affect other businesses,” Smyth said. “We’re going to push this bill until it gets through.”

Corrections: Sen. Gloria Romero was wrongly attributed as saying,”I understand her philosophy. Any new crime was not moving because they were trying to resolve the issue in jail. She has a teenage daughter in Los Angeles, so hopefully she is sensitive to that.” California Assemblyman Cameron Smyth actually said this.

Student Beatriz Flores was wrongly attributed as saying, “If Sen. Romero will turn it loose, no one will vote against it. She is the key. We want to make sure we write a law against the First Amendment. The First Amendment is pretty broad. You can’t just ban images. The issue of images is very dicey.” Smyth actually said this.

Do you have more to say than a comment? Want any feedback from the writer? Story ideas? Click on The Gripevine.