Missouri's sexual predator law challenged

Angela M. Coffel's status as the only woman ever declared a sexually violent predator in Missouri is in the hands of the state Supreme Court.

Her case was one of three the court considered Tuesday challenging the constitutionality of the state law that allows for the indefinite confinement of convicted sex offenders who have completed their prison terms but are deemed likely to commit new crimes if released.

For more on this story, read Wednesday's Southeast Missourian.