WRIC/WSLS 10 – RICHMOND (WRIC/WSLS 10) — Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment is facing some criticism after introducing a bill that would reduce the current penalties for the production of child porn.

Back in October 2015, Norment was part of the team arguing for a more lenient sentence for former Radford University ROTC Instructor and Virginia Tech professor Arthur William Jones.

Jones was sentenced after pleading guilty to 68 counts of carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old girl he met online.

In response to claims that the bill is aimed at protecting his clients Norment had this to say;

"That's absolute poppy cock and it has nothing to do with my practice. In fact, I take exception, umbrage at that. That's very disingenuous by some people who are just trying to attract some attention without regard to the factual basis of it," said Norment.

The bill was scheduled to be heard in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee on Wednesday but was passed by for the day. It could come up for a vote next week.