Feeling threatened

[WinsomeCreek]

Any guidance from any state welcome, but I am in WA so would appreciate if someone in-state can help.

 

A level 3 offender moved in right next door. I am a mom of boys. His offense was against boys. We are doing school during the day. Dh confronted the family that is allowing him to move in and we were informed that he has been hanging out at the house during the day anyway quite a bit over the past year. They never told us. The family members have felt free to drop by and visit in the past and even warned us about some stray dogs in the neighborhood that might be a threat to the kids. But no mention of the offender tending the yard less than 100 ft from my kids! Now he will be living there full time. They were not the ones to tell us. Another neighbor with kids did and showed us the registry info.

 

I am really having a hard time believing this is legal. He is high risk to reoffend. We're basically a school filled with his favorite victims. I will probably be up all night looking into this, but does anyone know what I should/can do? Who can we contact?

 

Thanks in advance....

[Mrs Mungo]

It doesn't look like that they are forbidden from living near schools or families with children. Is that your question?

 

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.44.130

[WinsomeCreek]

It is certainly one.

[Melissa in Australia]

I would feel threatened as well, but at least you know to watch out for him. Not to lesson your alarm (which is completely understandable), but Wherever you live there is always the possibility that there is a pedophile living close by that hasn't been caught and nobody knows to watch out for.

[DawnM]

I think the best thing you can do is to get the neighborhood on your side and find a way to strongly encourage him to leave.  Otherwise I don't think there is much you can do.

 

I know someone  whose brother is a convicted sex offender.  He not only is with his parents in their house, but he is allowed to travel, even overseas.

 

Dawn

[Cammie]

I would be upset to but I think better the offender you know than the one you don't.  You can have strict rules about that house/that guy now that you know.  However, what is scarier (to me) are the people you don't know anything about.

[LucyStoner]

I think the best thing you can do is to get the neighborhood on your side and find a way to strongly encourage him to leave. Otherwise I don't think there is much you can do.

 

 

Depending on the tactics: this can get you charged with harassment or give him ammunition to file a restraining order against his neighbors.

 

There is little recourse here. It's a registry and public information system, not a public exclusion law.

[Laurie]

 

 

I am really having a hard time believing this is legal. He is high risk to reoffend. We're basically a school filled with his favorite victims. I will probably be up all night looking into this, but does anyone know what I should/can do? Who can we contact?

 

 

I'm so very sorry.  I would feel threatened, too. 

 

The first thing I would do would be to make sure that you have very, very, very good window coverings and USE them when people are in the bathroom or undressing in bedrooms.   Walk around your house at night and make sure you can't see into these rooms.   http://mynorthwest.com/11/2499543/Convicted-voyeur-Steven-Powell-wants-state-to-pay-for-sex-offender-treatment

 

[Excelsior! Academy]

How did you find out about his offender status?

[ThisIsTheDay]

Any guidance from any state welcome, but I am in WA so would appreciate if someone in-state can help.

 

A level 3 offender moved in right next door. I am a mom of boys. His offense was against boys. We are doing school during the day. Dh confronted the family that is allowing him to move in and we were informed that he has been hanging out at the house during the day anyway quite a bit over the past year. They never told us. The family members have felt free to drop by and visit in the past and even warned us about some stray dogs in the neighborhood that might be a threat to the kids. But no mention of the offender tending the yard less than 100 ft from my kids! Now he will be living there full time. They were not the ones to tell us. Another neighbor with kids did and showed us the registry info.

 

I am really having a hard time believing this is legal. He is high risk to reoffend. We're basically a school filled with his favorite victims. I will probably be up all night looking into this, but does anyone know what I should/can do? Who can we contact?

 

Thanks in advance....

 

Depending on the level of his offense (or is it conviction?), you may be notified officially.  Have you seen this link about WA sex offenders and community notification? 

 

 

I understand your surprise and concern.  However, just because his offense was against boys does not mean that your boys are in any particular danger.  Of course, I would take precautions, but that probably would not be much different from what you are already doing, and honestly, I would be more protective and watchful of what they were doing outside.

 

The other family is under no obligation to notify you.

 

It's always good to be aware of your registry.  Most states generally allow offenders to live where they choose, with a few exceptions.

 

Just curious, how would you know he's at a high risk to reoffend? Did you find more info online (wondering how you found out it was boys).

 

**In general,** I would personally want to know what the original charges were and if possible some of the surrounding circumstances.  Did he befriend and molest neighborhood children?  Was it younger boys over whom he had some sort of authority?  I'd want to know how did he access these kids? Then I would be better able to protect my own.

 

Yes, it can be a scary realization that child sex offenders (and adult sex offenders, for that matter) can live literally right next door.  But I'm not sure it's much different than living next to a sex offender who just hasn't been caught yet.

 

[shage]

Depending on the level of his offense (or is it conviction?), you may be notified officially.  Have you seen this link about WA sex offenders and community notification? 

 

 

I understand your surprise and concern.  However, just because his offense was against boys does not mean that your boys are in any particular danger.  Of course, I would take precautions, but that probably would not be much different from what you are already doing, and honestly, I would be more protective and watchful of what they were doing outside.

 

The other family is under no obligation to notify you.

 

It's always good to be aware of your registry.  Most states generally allow offenders to live where they choose, with a few exceptions.

 

Just curious, how would you know he's at a high risk to reoffend? Did you find more info online (wondering how you found out it was boys).

 

**In general,** I would personally want to know what the original charges were and if possible some of the surrounding circumstances.  Did he befriend and molest neighborhood children?  Was it younger boys over whom he had some sort of authority?  I'd want to know how did he access these kids? Then I would be better able to protect my own.

 

Yes, it can be a scary realization that child sex offenders (and adult sex offenders, for that matter) can live literally right next door.  But I'm not sure it's much different than living next to a sex offender who just hasn't been caught yet.

 

 

I'm not the OP but many states are moving to a 3 tier notification system and the Level 3 offenders are the ones with public notification.  (Level 1 is generally law enforcement only unless there is a specific inquiry, level 2 is law enforcement plus victims and witnesses, level 3 is community.)  The tiers are supposed to reflect nature of crime and risk of recidivism; whether the levels actually predict recidivism is another question altogether.

 

US and South Korea are the only countries AFAIK that allow public access to the registries.

[Lieutenant Stranger]

We had someone move into the neighborhood who was also a "high risk" offender for child pr0n. There's probably nothing you can do, except to let your children know to stay the heck away from him and that house and that family at ALL costs. My children know which house it is and were told to never go there and to stay away.

 

I'm super sorry he's next door. You might be able to call the non-911 number for your local police and ask about it. But, he has rights to live where he live and I don't think there's much we can do about it.

[WinsomeCreek]

Another neighbor with kids let us know today. This man has convictions for crimes against multiple preteen and teen boys. I read his release report online. He was not able to be treated and is subject to many restrictions, stated high risk to reoffend. Given that I don't understand the issues and want to be careful not to step into any muddy harassment territory, I won't provide details. I got most info online and will contact authorities directly tomorrow.

 

I'm trying to set my emotional response aside. It seems likely that his living situation was approved without anyone knowing he was moving in next to a homeschool family of boys. Additionally, I am a den mother and we hold scouting activities here at the house at times. I get that the family had no obligation to tell us, but they have a past history of dropping by on occasion and recently came to the house to warn us of stray dogs, to keep an eye on the kids. It's just a pretty weird juxtaposition. I don't trust them to be honest or open with us or the authorities.

 

His horrific crimes make us unable to feel safe. My kids will not be allowed to play freely in their own yard. Now THAT is harassment.

 

Good idea on window covers. My boys are not modest at home. Time for that to change. We will build a privacy fence. Fortunately we are able to talk openly to the kids about this since we already have had discussions via scouting.

[WinsomeCreek]

I should say that by release report I mean his registry page that goes over his terms. Not some official prison release. Just to be clear.

 

ETA: He is level 3, it seems that if authorities knew about kids next door we would have been notified? Or perhaps notification is coming soon.

[Mergath]

Another neighbor with kids let us know today. This man has convictions for crimes against multiple preteen and teen boys. I read his release report online. He was not able to be treated and is subject to many restrictions, stated high risk to reoffend. Given that I don't understand the issues and want to be careful not to step into any muddy harassment territory, I won't provide details. I got most info online and will contact authorities directly tomorrow.

 

I'm trying to set my emotional response aside. It seems likely that his living situation was approved without anyone knowing he was moving in next to a homeschool family of boys. Additionally, I am a den mother and we hold scouting activities here at the house at times. I get that the family had no obligation to tell us, but they have a past history of dropping by on occasion and recently came to the house to warn us of stray dogs, to keep an eye on the kids. It's just a pretty weird juxtaposition. I don't trust them to be honest or open with us or the authorities.

 

His horrific crimes make us unable to feel safe. My kids will not be allowed to play freely in their own yard. Now THAT is harassment.

 

Good idea on window covers. My boys are not modest at home. Time for that to change. We will build a privacy fence. Fortunately we are able to talk openly to the kids about this since we already have had discussions via scouting.

 

Perhaps the laws are different where you live, but here sex offenders don't have to have their living situation approved.  They can live wherever they want, and there's nothing the police can do about it.  (And I know this because there are several level three offenders here living on the same street as our house and two elementary schools.)

[Mergath]

I should say that by release report I mean his registry page that goes over his terms. Not some official prison release. Just to be clear.

 

ETA: He is level 3, it seems that if authorities knew about kids next door we would have been notified? Or perhaps notification is coming soon.

 

Where we live the notification doesn't come personally to our door, but is a brief article in the newspaper and on the police website.

[Joshin]

I'm in Washington, and at least in my county, there isn't much you can do. Do your neighbors own or rent? (This is often a matter of public record.) If they rent, is the landlord aware they have added another adult to the home? The landlord may be on your side and he can make it very difficult for the guy to live there, and he can do it without breaking tenant laws.

 

 

[shage]

I should say that by release report I mean his registry page that goes over his terms. Not some official prison release. Just to be clear.

 

ETA: He is level 3, it seems that if authorities knew about kids next door we would have been notified? Or perhaps notification is coming soon.

 

In most states, placement on the online registration is the public notification.

 

Some areas will also notify via newspaper, but that is becoming less common as readership has declined.

 

To get a notification to each house?  I am not aware of that happening.  Parole is a complicated process and most jurisdictions struggle to maintain contact with the parolees, and direct notification of the neighbors is not in the budget or resources.

 

If you are serious about setting the emotion aside, then understand that there are many convicted crimes against children that never receive public notification of any sort.  And there are many sex offenders that avoid conviction altogether.  Really, the precautions you take should be similar regardless of who lives next door. 

[Catwoman]

I would definitely contact your local police department and ask a lot of questions about this.

 

It sounds like different places have different rules for these offenders, so you need to know what the exact rules are in your area.

 

I don't blame you for being disgusted and worried. I would feel exactly the same way.

[EndOfOrdinary]

Do not restrict your kids. That is not only unfair to them, but not reasonable. Trust your children to directly avoid this man. No talking, no smiling, no breathing in the same space as him. You are never going to be able to keep them 100 percent safe and they will never learn how to be safe if you do not allow them this time right now where you are directly there to have a very watchful parental eye. He is most likely under very strict regulations that he is not allowed to have ANY contact with children. If you see him so much as smile near your kids that is a problem. You can report that. However, if you appear to be harassing him for no reason, the police will not take you seriously.

 

I grew up in Washington, still live here. Our elementary school had to change its rules about kids walking home when a sex offender housing moved in three blocks from my school. I dated a guy whose brother was a level three sex offender (which I did not know until over a year into the relationship and the brother was released from prison.) I really do not think people have any idea the sheer number of offenders living near them. You cannot do anything except be proactive with your children.

 

The only out is to check your neighborhood association contract. They sometimes have rules against housing in such instances.

[momto10blessings]

Another neighbor with kids let us know today. This man has convictions for crimes against multiple preteen and teen boys. I read his release report online. He was not able to be treated and is subject to many restrictions, stated high risk to reoffend. Given that I don't understand the issues and want to be careful not to step into any muddy harassment territory, I won't provide details. I got most info online and will contact authorities directly tomorrow.

 

I'm trying to set my emotional response aside. It seems likely that his living situation was approved without anyone knowing he was moving in next to a homeschool family of boys. Additionally, I am a den mother and we hold scouting activities here at the house at times. I get that the family had no obligation to tell us, but they have a past history of dropping by on occasion and recently came to the house to warn us of stray dogs, to keep an eye on the kids. It's just a pretty weird juxtaposition. I don't trust them to be honest or open with us or the authorities.

 

His horrific crimes make us unable to feel safe. My kids will not be allowed to play freely in their own yard. Now THAT is harassment.

 

Good idea on window covers. My boys are not modest at home. Time for that to change. We will build a privacy fence. Fortunately we are able to talk openly to the kids about this since we already have had discussions via scouting.

I'm sorry. What a terrible situation. I can't imagine. It doesn't seem right that these criminals are allowed to live anywhere. I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

[kiwik]

It is interesting that you are told at all but a good thing in this case. I am pretty sure here no-one would be told at all either directly or indirectly. You would only find out if he was recognised (not as unlikely as you would think given our low population).

[scootiepie]

I would read up on everything about this person that is of public record and see if he has a pattern (does he befriend/woo his victims, is it a random attack on strangers) and educate

my kids on his motives and tactics.   Give them permission to use any means necessary to elude or escape him.   Alarms on your windows or get a dog and have it sleep in their room.   My worst fear is that he is sitting inside watching porn all day and then acts opportunistically with the first kid he sees.   Maybe that is not his modus operandi ....sorry to sound so alarmist.... but count yourself fortunate that you know about him and can be vigilant.

[IHaveNoIdeawhatIAmDoing]

Is moving an option? 

[OneStepAtATime]

The only other thing I would suggest is really solid locks on the windows and doors and an alarm system.  I had two friends molested (adults) that were attacked in their homes because their window lock weas jimmied open or the door lock was picked.

 

But I agree with pps, better the ones you know than the ones you don't.  Be vigilant, talk with the kids, but don't be a prisoner in your own home.  Best wishes.

[kwickimom]

I would be doing all I could to get rid of him or move. I know there are pedophiles everywhere, but I would never allow my children to ever play in my yard if one was next door. I would be on high alert all the time. I couldn't even stand the thought of him looking at my kids so we couldn't just hang out outside as normal. If he is high risk to offend again- he will. Makes my skin crawl. Your kids can avoid him all they want, but it only takes a split second for him to snatch one. 

I am sorry you have to live like this. I would be at the police station asking questions and speaking to every single neighbor I could. Find out exactly what you can and can't do in regards to alerting people to this sick-o.

 

[kwickimom]

I would be doing all I could to get rid of him or move. I know there are pedophiles everywhere, but I would never allow my children to ever play in my yard if one was next door. I would be on high alert all the time. I couldn't even stand the thought of him looking at my kids so we couldn't just hang out outside as normal. If he is high risk to offend again- he will. Makes my skin crawl. Your kids can avoid him all they want, but it only takes a split second for him to snatch one. 

I am sorry you have to live like this. I would be at the police station asking questions and speaking to every single neighbor I could. Find out exactly what you can and can't do in regards to alerting people to this sick-o.

 

[clarkacademy]

We have one on our street and all I can say is it really bites! I'm sorry but these people should not be allowed around others I don't care if they served their time or whatever. It just isn't fair to children that people who you know are a threat can live next door.

[emzhengjiu]

I know how you feel!  We just moved from a rental house to an apartment.   We had two known sex offenders living a block from our rental house.  Both were felons and moderate to high risk.  One targeted teen girls in the same age range as my girls.  My sweet daughters were not allowed to bike or walk alone.  I never felt comfortable.  As other posters mentioned, we made sure that no one could see inside the house at any time.  As of today, there are no registered felony offenders near us but that could and will change especially since we are in an apartment complex.  No matter how many times someone told me that knowing about the ones living near us was better, I still worried.

 

ETA:  In our area, the published information about sex offenders states clearly that the information cannot be used to harass the offenders in any way.  It's frustrating but they have a right to live next door if they choose.

[shawthorne44]

But where are they supposed to go?

 

I have no sympathy for them, but yeah let's get real.  Where are they supposed to go?

 

Where are they supposed to go?  In Jail and stay there.  

 

About every 6 months I check the pervert registry.  They do move frequently, so maybe there is hope for the OP that the perv will move.  Many years ago I noticed that the guy across the street had only spent one month in jail.  One.  The description of what he did was pretty heinous.  The registry never actually said how long someone was in jail, just gave the date they went in and out.  It was only that his incoming and outgoing photos looked precisely the same that made me look at the dates.  I then started to look at those dates for everyone.  I quickly learned that a standard sentence was up to one month for every year of the victims age, up to about age 15.  No one was in for more than 2 years unless the victim was an old lady. It made no sense to me until I realized that the defense probably threatened subtly to harass the victim on the stand.   That rule of thumb might have changed since then because I think my state now has a minimum sentencing law.  But, I don't believe perv's can be cured, so I think they should be locked up for life.  The OP's "neighbor" is a good example.  They are certain he will reoffend, yet he is out.  If the OP looks at the details, I seriously doubt that he served his complete sentence.

 

Also, in all the people I looked at I never saw someone registered that had probably been a couple in love/lust.  Like a 20-year-old guy with a 16-year-old girl.  If the male or female victim was >15, the perv was a >40-year-old man.  

[Spryte]

I'm sorry, OP. That stinks. At least you have talked to your kids about this type of stuff extensively already through scouts, right? Simple step now to extend it to a real person, though it's sad you must do that.

 

I think contacting a landlord, if there is one, is a good option. They can address it as a landlord/tenant issue.

 

I would hate to see you in trouble for harassment over this. :( Maybe talk to the local PD and then follow your best instincts re: keeping your kids safe. A lot of it (vigilance, etc) you do anyway, it's just now the threat feels more tangible. And it's tricky to tell your kids not to speak to a neighbor.

 

I don't know where former convicts like this should live. I have no sympathy for them either. It seems like living well away from kids would help them re-enter normal society. But it also must be hard to find housing and jobs, so they may not have many options. Ick. No easy answers. Maybe a halfway house in the desert?? (Somewhat joking.)

 

Do the neighbors have kids?

[shage]

Where are they supposed to go?  In Jail and stay there.  

 

About every 6 months I check the pervert registry.  They do move frequently, so maybe there is hope for the OP that the perv will move.  Many years ago I noticed that the guy across the street had only spent one month in jail.  One.  The description of what he did was pretty heinous.  The registry never actually said how long someone was in jail, just gave the date they went in and out.  It was only that his incoming and outgoing photos looked precisely the same that made me look at the dates.  I then started to look at those dates for everyone.  I quickly learned that a standard sentence was up to one month for every year of the victims age, up to about age 15.  No one was in for more than 2 years unless the victim was an old lady. It made no sense to me until I realized that the defense probably threatened subtly to harass the victim on the stand.   That rule of thumb might have changed since then because I think my state now has a minimum sentencing law.  But, I don't believe perv's can be cured, so I think they should be locked up for life.  The OP's "neighbor" is a good example.  They are certain he will reoffend, yet he is out.  If the OP looks at the details, I seriously doubt that he served his complete sentence.

 

Also, in all the people I looked at I never saw someone registered that had probably been a couple in love/lust.  Like a 20-year-old guy with a 16-year-old girl.  If the male or female victim was >15, the perv was a >40-year-old man.  

 

I say this gently:  Your information is extremely dated.  Mandatory sentencing is now the norm.  For child pornography, the mandatory sentences fall under federal guidelines and are very tough.

 

I think everyone who works with the situation up close would like to see changes with closer monitoring for the highest risk cases.  However, the offender population is extremely diverse.  The level of classification is typically at the discretion of the judge and thus may not be based on a more reasoned assessment.  There at some at lower risk of reoffending provided (and this is the tough part) they have some measure of social support which means restricting housing to the point that they have no choice but to live in homeless encampments is counter productive and likely leads to an increase in recidivism.  They also need some type of employment, not just for the finances but to keep them occupied.

 

Life in prison sounds nice in theory until you look at the financial side of it and realize tax payers are not putting their money where their mouth is.  It is also problematic IMO when you start looking at the individual cases and realize this is the area of our law enforcement and legal system that is the most dicey not because police are not doing their job, but because the cases are often by nature extraordinarily difficult to investigate.  I have seen convictions in child molestation cases that involve adult relationships gone bad followed by child testimony that was then recanted, combined with zero physical evidence.  What do you do with the child victim--and I continue to use that term intentionally--sobbing hysterically years after the fact as he talks about being a pawn in a nasty adult mind game that involved both parental figures and way too many drugs?  For every person locked up there is a ripple effect that is unintended yet potentially devastating.

 

Of course, there is always the counter situation:  too many children not protected.  And that is to our shame.  In terms of listening to victims, there has been tremendous progress in this area and that needs to continue.

 

I cringe though at the one-size-fits-all solutions often proposed because they are not realistic and don't fit the situation on the ground.

 

Probably the best answers I have seen in action are (1) better access to drug treatment for mothers and (2) Circles of Support and Accountability, a program with much better results than the alternatives but rarely implemented because it requires a community commitment based on reasoned and careful compassion versus a straight up visceral, emotional reaction.

[FO4UR]

Yeah that's the typical response for everything here.  We have one of the highest incarciration rates in the world.  It's not solving our problems.

 

As upsetting as it is to know you live next to someone like that, at least you know.  Anyone at any time could potentially be someone who hurts people.  We should teach our kids how to stay safe (hopefully without freaking them out). 

 

 

The problem is that there is not enough teaching in the world that will protect a child.  The responsibility cannot solely rest of the child.  There are grown women who KNOW and still find themselves victims.

 

For violent and/or sexual crimes, life in prison seems the most reasonable solution.  For *other* crimes, we can talk about creative solutions...but we are breeding an epidemic of sex crimes (and esp against children!!!) and this HAS to STOP!

 

 

 

 

OP - I am absolutely enraged for you.  I'd brainstorm every option to remove this man from the neighborhood, not excluding anonymous tips to the local paper, etc...  Checking with a landlord seems a great idea.  Write to your representatives.  Have your boys write to the representatives in your state/district asking for stricter laws.  

[Amira]

This is probably a totally crazy comment, but maybe instead of feeling threatened, you can feel empowered.  This man has, apparently, been next door often in the last year without your knowledge.  Now that he actually lives there, you finally know that someone who is potentially dangerous is next door and you can take concrete steps to do something about it.  Children need to be taught how to protect themselves, but it's also really nice to know that there are specific people they can be told to avoid no matter what.

 

I don't think we can expect law enforcement to keep track of every single homeschooling family and make sure no sex offenders live near them.  People who have been convicted of crimes and served their time have to live and work somewhere unless we want taxpayers to completely support them for the rest of their lives.  

[5of5]

This isn’t directed at any one PP, but I’m not following the logic that the OP shouldn’t feel too bad because at least now she “knows†versus the potential that there are perps no one knows about.

 

Having a known felon move close doesn’t reduce the chances of having unknowns in your neighborhood.  In fact, I could imagine scenarios where it would increase it.

 

At a guess, the underlying idea seems to be that she shouldn’t over-react to this because they were probably unknown perps near in any case.  I don’t think this is fully logical.  Yes, in general, there is such a chance, but now it is has moved to certainty, and certainty is a far different thing than just probability.  There is a definite chance of being killed in a car accident every time you go someplace, but would you still take a trip if you knew with certainty that you would be killed?

[redsquirrel]

In the ten years I worked with survivors of child sexual abuse I never met ONE that didn't have a personal relationship with their victim. As you can imagine, after my work experience, I am pretty darn paranoid about my kids and i will tell you that your kid is in more danger from the father of their best friend than a level 3 offender next door who has no contact with your kids. If he is a level 3 offender, that would mean that he isn't considered to be high risk to reoffend, at least in my state. Now, if he was a level 1, then it would be unlikely he would be allowed to live next door to you.

 

I had a level 3 offender living next door for two years. I only saw him walk past my house to go to work and come back. He never spoke to us. He wasn't a danger to us. I wasn't worried in the least. I knew who and what he was, and he wasn't getting near my kids.

 

You can call your local probation dept and ask to speak to the worker who oversees whatever his name is. Then you can express your concerns and see what the probation worker says. Probation isn't supposed to give out specifics about what the person did beyond what is in the public record, but it might be that this guy isn't really much of a danger.

 

[Annie G]

I say this gently:  Your information is extremely dated.  Mandatory sentencing is now the norm. 

 

 

 

Agree with this- we used to be friends with a lovely family...until the dad ran off with a 13 year old girl who he thought he was in love with- and he convinced her she was in love with him, too. After a few days she was found in another state very far away- he had flown her there and set her up in an apartment where they were going to start their new life. (He wasn't going to tell his family- just shuttle back and forth between them and this girl. He was a commercial pilot)

 

This happened in 2009, and he's been in jail since then. His projected parole date is 2047.   To me, that's justice for the victim and his family. 

 

What bothers me is that some states or some cases just slap a sex offender on the wrists instead of actually punishing the person. There's no justice for anyone in cases like that! 

 

OP, I feel for you, but there's probably not much you can do but keep an eye on your boys. 

[Slache]

There's too much here for me to read right now so I'm sorry for any repeats.

 

1. F this situation. I am so sorry for this horrible circumstance.

 

2. There's nothing you can do to get rid of him, and while this is very rude telling your children to completely ignore him is the best course of action. It will prevent grooming, which is a pedophile training a child to trust him and form a relationship. No waving. No hello. NO NOTHING. It's rude. It's unPC. I'm sorry. I was abused and I know how it happens. No communication. Ever.

[hjffkj]

There's too much here for me to read right now so I'm sorry for any repeats.

 

1. F this situation. I am so sorry for this horrible circumstance.

 

2. There's nothing you can do to get rid of him, and while this is very rude telling your children to completely ignore him is the best course of action. It will prevent grooming, which is a pedophile training a child to trust him and form a relationship. No waving. No hello. NO NOTHING. It's rude. It's unPC. I'm sorry. I was abused and I know how it happens. No communication. Ever.

I don't think its rude or unPC at all.  It is a logical consequence to the actions of the individual.  He chose to act on impulses and those impulses harmed children.  He must now live with people's decision to put their families safety over normal neighborly interactions. 

[melmichigan]

This is probably a totally crazy comment, but maybe instead of feeling threatened, you can feel empowered.  This man has, apparently, been next door often in the last year without your knowledge.  Now that he actually lives there, you finally know that someone who is potentially dangerous is next door and you can take concrete steps to do something about it.  Children need to be taught how to protect themselves, but it's also really nice to know that there are specific people they can be told to avoid no matter what.

 

I don't think we can expect law enforcement to keep track of every single homeschooling family and make sure no sex offenders live near them.  People who have been convicted of crimes and served their time have to live and work somewhere unless we want taxpayers to completely support them for the rest of their lives.  

I agree.  I have 11 Tier 3 sex offenders that either work or live within a 1 mile radius of our house.

[Annie Anne]

Do not restrict your kids. That is not only unfair to them, but not reasonable. Trust your children to directly avoid this man.

Did he abduct the boys he was conviced for?

[clarkacademy]

I know not everyone will be happy with my answer but sex offenders are the lowest of low and in my opinion they should live no where. Tax payers should not have to support them and as far as lethal injection goes a bullet costs pennies. No one who can torture a human being sexually should have any rights at all.

[shawthorne44]

Well, one problem with the minimum sentencing laws is it is just the minimum sentence, NOT the minimum time the perv will be in jail.  I just looked at the registry for where we will live in a couple of months.  

 

In 2007 a guy was sentenced to 10 years for "INDECENCY WITH A CHILD SEXUAL CONTACT" victim was 5 years old.  He is now living in our future town.  

 

Another guy was sentenced to Life in 1983 and is out.  

 

A third was convicted of "AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD" in 2005.  Victim was a 6 year old girl.  He was charged with 15 years and he is out now. This guy lives TWO HOUSES AWAY.  

A fourth was "AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD".  Victim was a 10 year old girl.  Sentenced to 10 years in 10/2012 and HE IS OUT.  

This is in a town with one stoplight in Texas.  We have a rep for being a "hang them high" state.  If only that were true.  They don't report as much info as they used to.  For example, you can no long find out how long someone was in jail.  

For the example of the guy that took a girl out of state, I wonder if that is because it was federal?  I used to know a guy that before he became a tee-totaling Lutheran had been into some bad stuff.  He said when he stole a car he always took it across the state lines and bought gas and kept the receipt.  That was because if he were caught he wanted it to be federal.  You would serve your complete sentence but the prison would be cushy.  
 

[FO4UR]

This isn’t directed at any one PP, but I’m not following the logic that the OP shouldn’t feel too bad because at least now she “knows†versus the potential that there are perps no one knows about.

 

Having a known felon move close doesn’t reduce the chances of having unknowns in your neighborhood.  In fact, I could imagine scenarios where it would increase it.

 

 

 

 

I can think of many scenarios.  Birds of feather flock together.  

[Moxie]

The offender registry is kind of a joke and it gives a false sense of security ("no offenders live in my neighborhood"). The truth is that most offenders know their victims quite well.

 

I would put up a fence, know where my children are playing, keep an eye on the guy for sure but I would not keep my children locked indoors.

[shage]

This isn’t directed at any one PP, but I’m not following the logic that the OP shouldn’t feel too bad because at least now she “knows†versus the potential that there are perps no one knows about.

 

Having a known felon move close doesn’t reduce the chances of having unknowns in your neighborhood.  In fact, I could imagine scenarios where it would increase it.

 

At a guess, the underlying idea seems to be that she shouldn’t over-react to this because they were probably unknown perps near in any case.  I don’t think this is fully logical.  Yes, in general, there is such a chance, but now it is has moved to certainty, and certainty is a far different thing than just probability.  There is a definite chance of being killed in a car accident every time you go someplace, but would you still take a trip if you knew with certainty that you would be killed?

 

I struggle with this analogy for 2 reasons.  One is the measure of certainty.  In most states, Washington included, if there is certainty of reoffending, after the criminal sentence is served, the prisoner is then civilly committed under the sexually violent predator laws.  IOW, level 3 is not the highest risk of sex offender that exists; it is the highest level that the parole board will release to the free world.  Second, if you know there is a high probability (though not certainty), then yes, there are some precautions.

 

We deal with this personally because we live in a high density population area and there is no neighborhood that does not have at least one parolee somewhere.  Second, we attend a church that has several men on the registry.

 

In terms of the neighborhood, my approach is to provide supervision when necessary and teach specific street smart skills.  We had one incident where a new neighbor was tripping my wire, AFAIK he had no record just some odd behaviors, and I did institute a no contact rule with my kids, including no eye contact, until we were able to get to know him.

 

At church, my approach is to take the lead in introducing myself WITH my kids present.  "Hi, my name is __________.  Nice to meet you.  Glad you here.  You know, my husband and I have this rule that my kids need to interact with you only with us present.  This is for your protection of course, and also for the kids.  With us present, we want you to know our kids and our kids to know you.  Without us present, there is to be no contact.  If there is, we will assume that is grooming or some sort of other parole violation.  That said, we truly welcome you to our community.  This is a good place for you to be.  Have you started looking for a job yet?  What kind of work do you do? How are you adjusting?"

 

Maintain eye contact.  Assume the dominant role in the conversation.  Let him know you will monitor the situation.  But also treat him like a human.  Decency and the expectation that he is capable of following rules goes long way towards keeping kids safe.  All kids, not only your own.

[Joanne]

The problem is that there is not enough teaching in the world that will protect a child.  The responsibility cannot solely rest of the child.  There are grown women who KNOW and still find themselves victims.

 

For violent and/or sexual crimes, life in prison seems the most reasonable solution.  For *other* crimes, we can talk about creative solutions...but we are breeding an epidemic of sex crimes (and esp against children!!!) and this HAS to STOP!

 

 

 

 

OP - I am absolutely enraged for you.  I'd brainstorm every option to remove this man from the neighborhood, not excluding anonymous tips to the local paper, etc...  Checking with a landlord seems a great idea.  Write to your representatives.  Have your boys write to the representatives in your state/district asking for stricter laws.  

 

 

I'm not sure what you mean by that statement? Would you mind explaining?

 

In terms of your last paragraph, the first part is not legal. The second, if it means lobbying for stricter *laws and sentencing* vs. "remove this man from living next to me", is appropriate.

[LucyStoner]

The reason SOs end up living with friends and family is because they can't get rental housing very easily. Most public housing is for families and seniors and will not take convicted SOs as applicants because of the vulnerable populations also living there. A large percentage end up homeless. Desperation increases criminal recidivism.

 

The death penalty is unconstitutional for all crimes besides murder and treason IIRC. A couple of states instituted it for sex crimes against children and the Supreme Court summarily rejected that.

 

WA state used to have much harsher civil commitment policies for releasing SOs but many of those rules were overturned in federal court years and years ago.

 

I guarantee you that you know other sex offenders or would be offenders. Not using your yard isn't going to keep your children safe. That is a false sense of security and one main reason I question the wisdom of public registries.

 

Everything you should be doing NOW to protect your kids now that you know who is next door, you should have already been doing THEN, before you knew a thing about this man.

[sassenach]

That stinks.  When we lived in Florida, our HOA canvased our neighborhood with the perp page of the person who moved in.  I can't imagine that being harassment.  In your shoes, I would call the local PD and find out what your options are.  I would want an much info as possible about this guy's crimes.  Did he groom his victims, or abduct them? That would be my biggest fear.

 

I would also get a home security system.  And I'd probably consider moving.  

 

Sorry.

 

[VeteranMom]

I lived directly across the street from an offender.  He was living with his parents for a couple of years.  It was a molestation of a 4 year old boy.  At the time, that was the same age as my kids.  He moved out of the house around the time of the molestation and came back after the crime.  When he came back, my neighbor (his mother) called all the neighbors to let us know he'd be living nearby and shared the information that he had been accused of the molestation.  I'd rather know about someone than not know.  There are many people out there that your kids are going to come across that are sex offenders.  Do you want one living next door?  No.  I'd be willing to bet you've lived near others you didn't know about, though.  We just have to be watchful.