Alarming Article Found on wdwinfo.com

[SamIAm21]

Sex Offenders Housed At Hotels Near Disneyland
Posted on May 08, 2006


(CBS) ANAHEIM, Calif. It's a place for kids… A destination for families…. Anaheim… Disneyland!

Tourist attractions that draw people from around the world to California.

But what these families don't know is that the state is dumping dozens of sex offenders--some labled high-risk pedophiles-- into some of the same hotels that families are checking into.

Just down the block from Disneyland -- at the Arena Inn and Suites -- we found this guest walking in the parking lot. A few minutes later we saw him waiting for the bus--with other tourists--under the Anaheim Resorts sign.

He's Perry Sheller. A registered sex offender convicted of rape. Sodomy. Lewd acts with a child under 14!

But the state checked him into the motel that is filled with children. There are 7 other registered sex offenders there—including Jeff Wright. They live just down the block from the happiest place on earth.

We've obtained this confidential list of high risk sex offenders. These people are the worst of the worst -- but we found plenty of them, and other registered sex offenders, housed in motels around the Anaheim area.

A few miles away--the Anaheim Executive Inn on Lincoln Avenue is a hotel that attracts tourist families. Expedia.com lists its close proximity to Disneyland. Guestroom amenities. And complimentary parking.

What they don't say is that in room 207, the guest is Earsul Jordan -- a convicted pedophile. The conditions of his parole say no contact with minors, and not to be present in places they congregate.

But the state put him here where families and children stay!

He's one of five registered sex offenders we found at the Executive Inn. Jonathan Rios is another. His rap sheet includes lewd acts with a child under the age of 14.

The desk clerk was reluctant to talk about it.But we found it all over.

At the Motel 6 on West Chapman Avenue in Orange -- --the website says they're close to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm.

Guests are also close to Theron Misouria. He 's a high risk sex offender staying there. Convicted of oral copulation with a person under 14. He's one of two registered sex offenders we discovered at this Motel 6.

The manager didn't want to talk about it.

That's because he didn't even know! A Motel 6 spokesperson says they don't allow sex offenders and didn't know they were checked in.

We uncovered dozens more. At the Garden Grove Inn on Garden Grove Blvd--12 high risk sex offenders! In room 104--Donald Hillhouse--convicted of sexual penetration with a foreign object.
And Billy Fulton, convicted of sodomy with a person under 16.

Next door at the Hospitality Inn, another 9 registered sex offenders. Including Guy Easley, a convicted rapist.

In all, we uncovered 43 registered sex offenders staying at 7 Anaheim area hotels. And you're paying for much of it! That's because the state subsidizes and finds housing for some parolees who can't afford a place to live.

State Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez is a former parole agent. He says the state's decision to house pedophiles near Disneyland is like putting them in a room full of children. He says, “You have to be thoughtful to where you place high-risk sex offenders with the probability that they are going to re-offend. For this department to do this is irresponsible."

But we discovered it again and again and again. Sex offenders…and children. A potentially dangerous mix.


Please keep a close eye on your kids if you are staying in or near any of the hotels mentioned here. This is a little disconcerting I must say!!

 

[dletz]

I probably shouldn't even reply to this, but I'm going to anyway.

These types of articles just bug me. I'm sure you can find the same practices going on everywhere, in every city. But because Disneyland is big news, they are going to make sure everyone knows about it. Unfortunately we only have three options with criminals, put them in jail forever, put them on an island where they have no contact with anyone ever again, or just be as vigilant as possible and live with it.

Do I want to know if there is a sex offender living two doors down from me, not really. If I know about it what can I do, move, I'm sure there will another one there too. Lock my daughter in the house and never let her see the light of day. Nope that's not going to happen either. Okay maybe I can warn her to stay away from this person. So she can interact with anyone but that person, again that is just letting your guard down for others. If I know for sure there isn't one living near me, does that mean I can let my guard down and not worry about it. NO that doesn't work either.

BTW, nothing against the orignal post. I do think it's good to keep vigilance about this stuff. What really bugs me is that they pick on one area, and make it seem like that one place is full of it, but if you go to the next county over and it's not happening at all. They just have to use a big name area to get ratings out of it, because no one would care if they just said, registered sex offenders are living in hotels.

 

[DisQueen]

Dletz, you aren't alone. These articles annoy me also. Yes, there are "hazards" in a large metroplitan area. Are these worse around Disneyland than in other cities? I doubt it. I have encountered the same problems in other cities and small towns where I have lived and visited. Disneyland may be the happiest place on earth (I love it!), but it is open to the public in a large city. It's easy to get swept up in the relative safety of DL and the fun of a vacation and forget about reality. Enjoy DL and southern california, but don't leave your common sense at home. I'm not saying these articles or newstories are false or unimportant, but remember someone is trying to sell their news service to you. What will sell - sensational stories based on fact or news that Anaheim is no different than any other large city??? Just my 2 cents - and a small rant.

 

[lntsmom]

recently the local news reported on the mentally ill from surrounding counties being dumped in our downtown area.

About 5 years ago there was a sadder case. An adjoining county's sherriff's office dumped a released con in a small strip mall here. The mall has a Mr. Goodcents, a dance place, a watch place, insurance agent, nail place. It is not on a bus route and isn't near any housing.

A mom and her young son pulled in. She ran into Mr. Goodcents to buy a soda....making a very bad decision by leaving her keys in the car. The con jumped in, tried to push her son out, and took off.

He claims he didn't know it, but the boy was entangled in the seatbelt. He was dragged down 291 Highway, several miles up I-70, and onto Noland Road. People all along were honking and trying to wave him over. Finally, two brothers penned him in.

He claimed he had no idea he'd been dragging the child.

Incidents like this are why dumping is horrific. It's easy to dismiss unless you know a family who has actually been victimized this way. Yes, the mom shouldn't have left a young child alone, especially in a car that had unlocked doors and keys in the ignition. But, had the sherriff's office dealt with their problem rather than dumping him elsewhere, that child would be alive today!

Feel free to research if you think I'm making this up. It happened in Independence, MO.

 

[DisQueen]

I agree with you - dumping is horrible. There are terrible people everywhere. I wish it weren't true, but it is. That's why we all need to be vigilant parents and good citizens and watch out for our children - those of our family, our neighborhood, etc. My heart goes out to that boy and his family. This is the reason I can't watch the evening news many days. Maybe that's why I like Disneyland. I wish I could always live in world with flying elephants, pixie dust, and a kind-hearted mouse.

 

[DeniseMousketeer]

Guess what - As disgraceful as it is, if you do an online search of any metropolitan area for sex offenders, you are going to get exactly the same results as they did for the Disneyland area. We aren't in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.

 

[SamIAm21]

I think the point of the article is why are they putting sex offenders and pedophiles so close to a place absolutley known to be crawling with kids. Granted, there are children everywhere, but why are they putting them so close to an amusement park area?? Also, when people go on vacation, they tend to let their guard down a little bit. They are having fun, not really thinking. I don't let my guard down ever, but it happens.

Also, I know sex offenders live everywhere as I do have one right across the street from me and we live in a upper mid class, sub-rural type of community. Seriously, I could throw a rock and hit his front door! So, my daughter is totally aware that bad people could be anywhere, including her own neighbors.

Sorry, if you felt I did you a disservice by posting this article. I hoped it would help someone remain vigilant even if they are at the Happiest Place on Earth.

 

[dletz]

First of all I had nothing against posting the article, it was more the article itself, and you just happened to give me a public place to vent I think posting information like this helps to keep people aware of what is going on because it is easy to get comfortable.

As for why do they do it near Disneyland, because there are a lot of cheaper hotels around there. All of the listed hotels are not major hotel chains, and while I didn't look them all up, the ones I know of are the cheaper not as nice hotels.

 

[SamIAm21]

Ahh thanks, well I can see where you are coming from. And I'm sure given that you're from Anaheim, you are probably sick of hearing about it too.

I guess that's the greatest thing about being a kid. The parents worry about the ugly side of life and the kids can just for a little while be innocent to it all!

I remember those carefree days...

 

[caimakale]

I think it's a great article, thanks for posting it. The thing about Disneyland is that parents do tend to let their guard down a little. When you walk into Disneyland, do you feel threatened? Do you feel unsafe? No way!!! After all it is the happiest place on earth! Would you leave your stroller sitting outside the grocery store for 45 minutes where you live? Chances are it would be gone, but people do it all the time in the park. In Disneyland there is a sense of security and trust among/between park guests. This is a pedophiles dream come true. Now I know some people are in the wrong spot at the wrong time and get charged with crimes that can be a little unfair. I know a guy who was urinating in public, a little girl came around the corner and seen him and guess what...he is now a sex offender. He never had any intention to do anything to the child, but it was lewd conduct in front of a minor child. But there are really sick people out there who do have bad intentions. Disneyland is their dream come true and to be dumped there, so close to it, is in my opinion a rather stupid decision by law officials to do.

I know crime has no address, it's everywhere and there is nothing we can do to stop it 100%. But prevention is key. If your kid is dressed in nice white clothes for pictures on a particularly sunny day, you don't give them a fudgecicle (sp?) to eat while they wait. You know the white clothes will be brown in no time. You are smart enough to know the likely outcome. Next thing you know, they will be getting people convicted of grand theft auto in a work release program at auto dealerships. While we're at it, how about getting men convicted of domestic violence to do community service at womens shelter. In all seriousness, the actions of law enforcement in this situation probably weren't the brightest and as somebody visiting DL in a week, I appreciate the article.

 

[Anewman]

I think the point of the article is why are they putting sex offenders and pedophiles so close to a place absolutley known to be crawling with kids. Granted, there are children everywhere, but why are they putting them so close to an amusement park area?? Also, when people go on vacation, they tend to let their guard down a little bit. They are having fun, not really thinking. I don't let my guard down ever, but it happens.

Also, I know sex offenders live everywhere as I do have one right across the street from me and we live in a upper mid class, sub-rural type of community. Seriously, I could throw a rock and hit his front door! So, my daughter is totally aware that bad people could be anywhere, including her own neighbors.

Sorry, if you felt I did you a disservice by posting this article. I hoped it would help someone remain vigilant even if they are at the Happiest Place on Earth.

I saw the original news broadcast a week or two ago.

And yes I understand the concern, but in all honesty this reporter dramatized the whole thing.

Other than the Arena INN all other motels/hotels in the newscast were several miles away from Disneyland but they kept using terms like "nearby" and "close to". David Goldstein is a fool, all his reports are like this.

This is just another case of California needing more prisons, but No one wanting those prisons in their neighborhood. What really upsets me is that the tax payers are paying for these criminals housing, where ever that maybe.

 

[SamIAm21]

ANewman: Thanks for the other side of the story. Seems like pedophiles and terrorists make the best headlines.

Well, either way, I'll be in DL next month having a fabulous time, contributing to the local economy and keeping one eye out for anything that could get in my way of doing that.

 

[CalGal]

I heard this morning on the radio that some sex offenders housed near DL are now being relocated out of Anaheim. I guess a Congressperson got wind of the bad press and did something about it.