Sex offender 3 houses away

[MoniqueU]

My neighbor across from me and just came over to tell me there is a sex offender 3 houses down and across the street from me. There are 4 houses on either side of our street and I live in CA where the houses are close together. I feel sick and violated and fearful. Apparently we also have an unmarked cop car stationed out in front of my house watching him at times. I am guessing my neighbor called in or asked the cop 2 doors down from him to find out why we hace a car there? I was wondering why I hadn't seen some of the neighbors kids out for a long time.

 

[msjprincess]

What was the offense?

 

[Jennasis]

Well before you have a panic attack, you should check out those watchdog websites that tell you about the sex offenders near where you live and can find out what the level of his offense was. It could be something as simple as consensual sex when he was a teen or it could be a heinous crime. Best to check first.

www.familywatchdog.us

 

[Suellen]

We had one across the street from us who raped and buried alive an 11 year old girl who clawed her way out of her intended grave.

I was not happy ~ my daughter had just been born so it wasn't like she was ever unattended or anything ~ and then he violated his parole and went back to prison.

I mean why would someone like that EVER get out and be allowed to live within a mile of schools???

I check the watchdog sit often now!

 

[MoniqueU]

I looked at the registry anad couldn't find one listed for our street though the a few that were on the list for out zipcode are still there and some I guess have moved as the one that had been closest to us has moved. I do understand not all the offenses are worthy of panic but to have the cops watching the house at any time for any reason has me on edge. There is a undercover drug cop 2 doors down trm the neighbor that came to tell me. I am assuming he is the one that tipped off the neighbor that came over. I am just disgusted.

 

[Acklander]

We had one across the street from us who raped and buried alive an 11 year old girl who clawed her way out of her intended grave.

I was not happy ~ my daughter had just been born so it wasn't like she was ever unattended or anything ~ and then he violated his parole and went back to prison.

I mean why would someone like that EVER get out and be allowed to live within a mile of schools???

I check the watchdog sit often now!

to make room for non violent drug offenders

 

[Liberty Belle]

We have one about six houses away from us. I made sure my son knew what house the guy lives in. I've actually never seen him (just his picture online). It creeped me out when I first heard about it.

 

[nathalee81]

I found out recently that I have one living ONE door down from me. The crime for which he was in jail was aggravated sexual assault of a child. I felt the same as you.

I live within 500 feet of two schools and just couldn't comprehend how they could allow this guy to move in. I thought there was a law that sexual offenders could not live within 500-1000 feet of a school. I also thought the sexual offender and/or his parole/probation officer were required to go door to door within a certain radius of the house he was residing to inform the neighbors (which did not happen in this case).

So, the next AM I called the number listed on the registry. A very helpful woman gave me some info:

1) the 500/1000 feet rule is only under certain circumstances (high risk sexual offender) and this can even be waived by a judge.
2) A postcard (at least, in my state) is sent out to everyone in a mile radius of the sexual offender (I believe it was a mile, it may been more), but only if he is considered "high risk" and only if he released on parole or probation (so, not if he has served his whole sentence).

I totally understand people serving their time and living their life when they get out of jail. I understand that everyone should have that right, but that is hard to come to terms with when sexual offenders have such a high level of recidivism and your kid lives on the same street.

I guess the only comfort we have (and it is small to be sure) is that we KNOW about these offenders. We KNOW where they live and what they did. There are alot more out there we probably don't know anything about.

 

[nathalee81]

to make room for non violent drug offenders

Excellent point.

 

[Belle0101]

Well before you have a panic attack, you should check out those watchdog websites that tell you about the sex offenders near where you live and can find out what the level of his offense was. It could be something as simple as consensual sex when he was a teen or it could be a heinous crime. Best to check first.

www.familywatchdog.us

Ditto.

A few years back a family moved in right next door to us - husband, wife, teenage son. The son was 17 and had a 16 year old girlfriend. Both still in high school. No sooner did the son turn 18 than the girl's parent pressed rape charges against him.

Legally, yes he broke the law. He was technically now an adult and she was still a minor. The thing of it is, she was coming to his house for sex. When he gets out of prison he'll have to register as a sex offender, for the rest of his life.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

to make room for non violent drug offenders

Ding.

People like that should be killed instantly. Neck snapped like a rat in a trap.

 

[krcit]

We had one across the street from us who raped and buried alive an 11 year old girl who clawed her way out of her intended grave.

I was not happy ~ my daughter had just been born so it wasn't like she was ever unattended or anything ~ and then he violated his parole and went back to prison.

I mean why would someone like that EVER get out and be allowed to live within a mile of schools???

I check the watchdog sit often now!

that's horrific!!!!!

 

[sunnyday123]

I found out recently that I have one living ONE door down from me. The crime for which he was in jail was aggravated sexual assault of a child. I felt the same as you.

I live within 500 feet of two schools and just couldn't comprehend how they could allow this guy to move in. I thought there was a law that sexual offenders could not live within 500-1000 feet of a school. I also thought the sexual offender and/or his parole/probation officer were required to go door to door within a certain radius of the house he was residing to inform the neighbors (which did not happen in this case).

So, the next AM I called the number listed on the registry. A very helpful woman gave me some info:

1) the 500/1000 feet rule is only under certain circumstances (high risk sexual offender) and this can even be waived by a judge.
2) A postcard (at least, in my state) is sent out to everyone in a mile radius of the sexual offender (I believe it was a mile, it may been more), but only if he is considered "high risk" and only if he released on parole or probation (so, not if he has served his whole sentence).

I totally understand people serving their time and living their life when they get out of jail. I understand that everyone should have that right, but that is hard to come to terms with when sexual offenders have such a high level of recidivism and your kid lives on the same street.

I guess the only comfort we have (and it is small to be sure) is that we KNOW about these offenders. We KNOW where they live and what they did. There are alot more out there we probably don't know anything about.

You would think with the amount of children who have been killed by sex offenders living next door or across the street, laws would be changed.

If it were me, I'd be getting another big dog. I'd also have a very hard time leaving my DD home alone. Actually, I don't think that I would.

 

[Hannathy]

Well before you have a panic attack, you should check out those watchdog websites that tell you about the sex offenders near where you live and can find out what the level of his offense was. It could be something as simple as consensual sex when he was a teen or it could be a heinous crime. Best to check first.

www.familywatchdog.us

100% agree. It is ridiculous that they have to register.


To all the others they have to live somewhere. As long as people are against the death penalty and life in prison that means life then they are going to have to be in your neighborhoods.

 

[tvguy]

I'm not a fan of Megan's Law websites because I think it gives parents a false sense of security. You need to be vigilant with your child in teaching them to protect themselves, and YOU need to be vigilant in watching them.

When I was involved in Little League and we started criminal background checks, we had sexual assault detective speak to our board of directors.
He said two things that startled me. Over half the under age victims are assaulted by a relative. And over half the under age victims are assaulted by someone with absolutely no criminal report, not even a parking ticket.
Certainly made me conclude that I should never let my guard down in protecting my children.

 

[Magpie]

I'm not a fan of Megan's Law websites because I think it gives parents a false sense of security. You need to be vigilant with your child in teaching them to protect themselves, and YOU need to be vigilant in watching them.

When I was involved in Little League and we started criminal background checks, we had sexual assault detective speak to our board of directors.
He said two things that startled me. Over half the under age victims are assaulted by a relative. And over half the under age victims are assaulted by someone with absolutely no criminal report, not even a parking ticket.
Certainly made me conclude that I should never let my guard down in protecting my children.

Excellent post. ITA! It's not the ones you know about that you should fear most.

The worst part of the current US registry is that children as young as seven years old can end up on it. Ten year olds have been put on it. (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...experts_19met.ART.State.Edition1.4b90e00.html)

Some of these children were abused, acted out their abuse with younger children, and hey presto - they're registered sex offenders. Others would benefit more from treatment for their mental health issues. Unfortunately it makes getting through school almost impossible, because inevitably a classmate finds out and word spreads. It also makes these children targets for predators because their names, locations and the details of their offenses are available to the public.

Also, it was thanks to Maine's public Sex Offender registry that a Canadian man got a gun and headed across the border to shoot a "sex offender". He got two. One of his victims was a man who'd been convicted of statutory rape for having sex with his 17yo girlfriend after he turned eighteen. He was murdered in front of his wife.

Statutory crimes only muddy the waters. They shouldn't be included in the registry. Children shouldn't be on the registry, either. As it stands, the registry stinks.

 

[MoniqueU]

i have 2 dogs and only only one child that goes outside for anything other to get in the car. She will be 13 next month. She goes out to go to one of 2 girls houses. But each are around a corner. Not far but out of sight. I let both mothers know and told them to call me if their girls are coming over so I can walk to get them or keep an eye out. I never have just let my kids roam around the neighborhood or walk home from school or a bus stop. My oldest DD did walk from a friends house to water polo and while combing the list today noticed there was a new one on the street she lives on. I looked over the list a few times. I do have pretty heavy duty sports commitments on the weekends where my yongest doesnlt go to. I am comfortable leaving her home however I may be reactivating my alarm system soon. My youngest DD was just out through the neighborhood for NYE with the neighbor girls and i never thought anything of it. No one will be out even in the yard anymore I don't think. I am going to get more details from the neighbor who dold me and the undercover cop in our neibhborhood. If there is in fact a van watching the house it isn't for no good reason, teh police in my town of 300k people have better things to do with their time and rescources and I am guessing this is more then just the gase of an 18 year old with a 16 year old as this house only from what I can tell has the one guy living there.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I would be more concerned why the cop car sits there watching over. If they person is that dangerous, they should be in jail.

Google is very helpful in telling you what someone did and the details. It's all public record if you have their name.

 

[FireDancer]

As others have already stated I wouldn't assume that just because someone is registered as a sex offender that they are dangerous. Someone peeing on a tree, which last I checked isn't sexual at all, can lead to a sex offender registration in some situations. You also have the 19 year old sleeping with his 17 year old girlfriend which isn't a big deal IMO considering a 2 year difference is nothing in relationships.

The entire process needs to be reworked so that the people who have to register are dangerous offenders like rapists and molesters, not nothing cases like mentioned above. As Tvguy mentioned a child is much more likely to be hurt by a relative or a person in authority that they know as opposed to the boogy man down the street. Sure it happens but we spend so much time worrying about the high profile but statistically unlikely dangers in life we completely ignore the pressing ones. There is a book called Culture of Fear that talks about just that.

 

[castleview]

As others have already stated I wouldn't assume that just because someone is registered as a sex offender that they are dangerous. Someone peeing on a tree, which last I checked isn't sexual at all, can lead to a sex offender registration in some situations. You also have the 19 year old sleeping with his 17 year old girlfriend which isn't a big deal IMO considering a 2 year difference is nothing in relationships.

The entire process needs to be reworked so that the people who have to register are dangerous offenders like rapists and molesters, not nothing cases like mentioned above. As Tvguy mentioned a child is much more likely to be hurt by a relative or a person in authority that they know as opposed to the boogy man down the street. Sure it happens but we spend so much time worrying about the high profile but statistically unlikely dangers in life we completely ignore the pressing ones. There is a book called Culture of Fear that talks about just that.

We have someone in our town who is listed on the registry for that. When I worked for the newspaper, the town I covered had nine sex offenders listed and six of them were statutory rape.