[BrandyHagz]

My husband and I have moved into a new house, in a new community. When we were house hunting, we did a lot of background on the communities we were searching in, and for each area, we did a “registered sex offender” search, in order to protect ourselves, and our son.

When we started down the road of home ownership six months ago, I searched, researched and talked to everyone I could about our “future home”. Everyone loved the community, and people, and the location. We made an offer, and closed a few months later.

We’ve been in our house about two weeks, and finally, after several years of base housing, rentals, and even a short stint in an extended stay hotel, home ownership is starting to sink in.

This morning, I was just surfing around, posting some, and generally bored, when I decided I would search the sex offenders database for updates…I was HORRIFIED to discover that our NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR is now on the list.

What steps can I take to protect my son from this predator? Already, I feel my level of comfort diminishing! Since moving in, our son has more or less come and go as he wishes, although I do make him carry a hand held 2 way radio…

We live right across the street from the city park, two baseball diamonds, and a soccer field…in addition to that, we are three houses (the sex offender is two houses) away from the elementary school…and EVERYONE here walks to school…I am just FLOORED!

Aside from arming Jerrett with the tools he needs to get out of a bad situation if he finds himself in one…how can I protect the other kids?

I’ll tell you, I am honestly having a hard time breathing after reading this news…it scares me to death!

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[echaos]

Brandy,

Brandy, How horrible for you. I can't imagine!!

How old is your son? Is he old enough to sit down and talk to? Can you contact your local police station and get some advice from them? Have you talked to the school or other parents? If this guy has lived there for a while, they have probably had to deal with this on some level and could give you advice. If he just showed up on the list, does that mean it's a new offence? Shouldn't someone have contacted the people in the area if that's the case?

Sorry for all the questions and no real advice.

Let us know how you make out.

[BrandyHagz]

How old is your son? Is he old enough to sit down and talk to?

He is nine, almost ten…I’m sure we can sit down and talk to him, but I still worry

Can you contact your local police station and get some advice from them?

That’s a great idea, I hadn’t thought of that. I will call them in a bit.

Have you talked to the school or other parents?

No, its spring break this week for the school, but Jerrett is homeschooled, so I don’t know if the would have any advice for me anyway. I haven’t talked to any parents yet, but I will this evening, when everyone gets home!

If this guy has lived there for a while, they have probably had to deal with this on some level and could give you advice.

See that’s what I was thinking…ya, he has lived here all his life, at least I think he has. Its his parents house that he lives in, and his dad told us Saturday that they have lived there since 1963. Our neighbor on the other side has seven kids, and we’ve talked a lot…but they’ve never brought this up. It makes me wonder if anyone even knows!

If he just showed up on the list, does that mean it's a new offence?

That’s the only thing I can think of…I know it wasn’t there last month, nor the months previous…I’ve been checking every month since October. Maybe he just moved back home, and had to register or something…I dunno. I’ll have to check.

Shouldn't someone have contacted the people in the area if that's the case?

That’s a very good question…I don’t know, I’ll have to find out. I know in most states, all the offender has to do is register, and it’s the communities responsibility to stay updated on who is on the list…it serves as the “notification” or whatever.

I am just floored…I’m going to make some phone calls right now.

[maryjanek]

You might try talking with the school's principal. When my daughter was quite young her school had a special training designed to protect the kids from sexual predators. It covered on the usual rules about strangers, and encouraged the kids to report to a trusted adult any situation where they were made uncomfortable by any adult's behavior towards them. They also practiced with making a loud distress call. (The kids enjoyed that.)

Unfortunately I don't remember any details -- sponsoring organization, etc. But I think it's a good idea for the schools to be involved. I can't think of any other way to reach all the kids. A program like this also has the potential to help kids who may be being abused within their families, which I think is unfortunately more common than abuse by strangers.

P.S. I saw in the previous post, after I wrote this, that your son is home schooled. But it might not be a bad idea anyway, given your concerns about the other kids walking to school.

[spaypets]

Brandy, do you know what the offense was? It might give you an idea of what to be alert for.

In some states "sex offender" is a pretty broad term. It can mean indecent exposure, which could have been a "mooning" episode. It could mean statutory rape -- meaning he was a 19 year old sleeping with his 15 year old girlfriend. Or, it could be something much more sinister. A lot of these people were charged before there were sex offender registries, otherwise they never would have plead guilty to the "sex" charge.

Regardless, I think you should tell your son never to be alone with this man and also teach him not to go off with anyone. The sad fact is that most kids who are molested are molested by people in their family or social circle, not strangers.

[BrandyHagz]

Spay,

No, I don’t know. The Illinois Registry doesn’t give a lot of information. I do know that in our town, there are three people registered, one is a seventy five year old man, with the words, “Sexual Predator” under his name, the other is a twenty something fella, he doesn’t have those words…the guy next door is thirty, and has the words, “Sexual Predator” under his name…

I wish the site said the date of conviction…that would really help me out!

Here is what it says on the neighbors “Profile”:
AGG CRIM SEX ABUSE/VIC <13

Here is what it says on the other “Sexual Predators” profile:
AGG CRIM SEX AB/VIC 13-16

And here is what it says on the other guy, with out “Sexual Predator” under his name:
AGG CRIM SEX ABUSE/VIC 13-16
AGG CRIM SEX AB/VIC 13-16

I am just at a loss…I wonder if the police would be more help…

[BrandyHagz]

Here is what I found regarding "Sexual Predator"

What is a Sexual Predator?

• 11-17 keeping a place of juvenile prostitution;
• 11-19.1 juvenile pimping;
• 11-19.2 exploitation of a child;
• 11-20.1 child pornography;
• 12-13 criminal sexual assault, if the victim is a person under 12 years of age;
• 12-14 aggravated criminal sexual assault;
• 12-14.1 predatory criminal sexual assault of a child;
• 12-16 aggravated criminal sexual abuse;
• 12-33 ritualized abuse of a child; and
  
• convicted of first degree murder under the Criminal Code of 1961, when the victim was a person under 18 years of age and the defendant was at least 17 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense;
  
• certified as a sexually dangerous person pursuant to the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act or any substantially similar federal, sister state, or foreign country law;
  
• found to be a sexually violent person pursuant to the Sexually Violent Person Commitment Act or any substantially similar federal, sister state, or foreign country law;
  
• Convicted of a second subsequent offense, after July 1, 1999, which requires registration pursuant to this Act; and
  
• convicted for an offense of federal law, Uniform Code of Military Justice, or the law of another state or a foreign country that is substantially equivalent to the listed offenses above.
  

A 'sexual predator' is required to register annually for their natural life.

As if that makes things any clearer

[dadfor2]

hi brandy

do you know what level he is on.....they all have to register, but there are different levels, pending on the charge.

if hes level 1 then he is at low risk for another offence...it could of been an ex girlfriend who said he sexually assaulted her...and thats it.

there is a big debate on the sexual offence register. I had a client a few yrs. that actually pulled over on the road to go to the bathroom, the cops saw him and arrested him for open and gross and indecent and was found guilty...those are sexual offences and now he has to register...he is considered a level 1.

there are 3 levels....level 3 is the worst....

i think you need to start from there...if the police cant give you information, then he is probably at level 1...and with that level, then no one in the neighborhood should even know. And he is at a low risk for commiting another offence.

However, and i dont want to alarm you, but you are already alarmed....the fact that you got it from the internet, he is probably not level 1.

but again, it varies state to state

dadfor2

[PinkRibbon]

I can't imagine how scary that is for you.

Years ago I worked for big brothers/big sisters as an educator for sexual abuse prevention. This was before megan's law and the registry of sex offenders, in fact, it was before a lot of schools even had good touch/bad touch.

I would talk to your neighbors and come up with a plan that everyone is going to follow with their children so that they can not only protect themselves, but look out for each other.

Since your child is 9 I assume that he already knows about good touch/bad touch. Have a conversation about what people who "bad touch" kids looks like. You might even ask him to draw a picture. If he draws a monster like person (which most kids will) you need to have a more indepth conversation about how the "bad touch" people can look like anyone else etc etc. After that I would tell him that you found out on a website to keep kids safe that Joe So and So from next door did something and that he should stay away from Joe. He should avoid going on his property and never to go into his house. Stress that he doesn't need to be afraid because they put names on the website to keep kids safe. Then talk about looking out not only for himself, but for any little kids that he might see going there and to call an adult if he is asked to come over or if he sees another kid do that.
Assure him that you will protect him, but he still should be careful.

Knowledge is power!

[dadfor2]

oh, i forgot to give my suggestion.....lol...im at work and i didnt finish it.

download where he is on the list...go bring it down in person to the police station and ask if there is anything you should know and let them know your concerns......

ask them if the neighborhood is aware and plus there is a school yard close by that you are concerned with.

but be aware, that just because he is on the sexual register, doesnt mean it involved any children.

again, if they wont give you information, ask them "do they know what level he is on?" if they still cant give you information...

then ask, in a general question

"if he was on level 2 or 3, then are you alllowed to tell me what level he is on?...."

this way you kinda figure out what level he is on....but again, if its level 1...dont think twice about it...easier said then done...write?

let me know, i might be able to help.

dadfor2

[BrandyHagz]

The Site doesn’t say anything about levels. It only has his physical address, full name, date of birth, physical description, photograph, and the information I posted above.

I am assuming that “vic < 13” means, “Victim under age 13” but the whole greater than and less than symbols have always confused me…can someone tell me if I am reading that right?

I did some searching of the site to see if there was any more info on offenders from larger cities, and there wasn’t, so I guess this is how they do things.

My calls to the Police Station got me no where…its lunch time I guess. I’ll try again after 2 PM.

[WhoseEyes]

A sexual offender is usually the lesser of the two evils. In order to be labeled as a sexual predator, there have been other cases of abuse. His victim, according to what you posted was a child under the age of 13. To be a predator, he has perpetrated more than once.

Your local police department should be able to give you a criminal history on this gent for a few dollars. All you need is his name and address. All of that is public knowledge. Once secured, you may request the actual police reports for each offense.

As a police officer, I would strongly advise you to talk with your children. As a father, I would keep them under strict supervision when anywhere near the neighbor.

You have our prayers,

Tim

[patrisha]

The registration of sex offenders is big step in right direction, but unfortuately all the "kinks" haven't been worked out in most jurisdictions. Even here in AZ it's been under scutiny because of finding so many registered sex offenders concentrated in a the same apartment complex and neighborhood.

As Dadfor2 noted, this guy could have done anything from getting caught skinny dipping in a neighbors pool, to raping or sodomizing a young child. Even the category of the crime he was convicted of may or may not be what he was suspected of doing with today's plea bargaining arrangements.

If it were my next door neighbor, I would also confront him and ask him myself. If I hurt his feelings, so be it. The worst he could do is tell you to get lost and at least you can use a little "mother's intuition" to gage his body language and reaction.

Trish

[DianeS]

I think you're right to do as much research as you can before saying anything to anybody.

One thing to check and see is if your state/county keeps a log of criminal cases in a database you can access. You may be able to find the date of his trial, or even the date of what occurred, and exactly what he was convicted of - maybe even what he was originally charged with. It may have been a "real" conviction, or a plea bargain.

I'd also advise going to the police station in person. There's always someone behind the desk who can answer questions, and this one sounds general enough that you shouldn't have to be redirected. He may even have pamphlets or something to hand to you so you wouldn't have to wait for the mail.

I like PinkRibbonAmy's idea of having your son draw a picture of someone who would touch kids in the wrong places. He really does need to know that "normal" adults can do wrong things. And extend the good touch/bad touch discussion to good looking/ bad looking - a lot of convictions nowadays don't involve touching at all, but rather child pornography, and your son should know not to look at it or to allow others to look at him or allow pictures to be taken of himself.

Look through other listings you can find and see if you can find any phrase or abbreviation that might stand for "position of trust". I know here, the sentencing for an adult who victimizes a child is different from the sentencing for an adult who victimizes a child who has been taught to trust him. (ie: teachers, day care workers, crossing guards, etc). And here, they put "P.O.T. sex abuse" instead of just "sex abuse" when the adult was in that position of trust. Don't know whether I'd be more or less scared if they use that difference and he didn't have it, but it's something else to know.

And one last thing... since this is a neighbor you cannot trust, be sure to work with your son on the names, locations, and phone numbers of neighbors you CAN trust. In an emergency, you don't want him running next door just because he can't think of anyone else.

[BrandyHagz]

Wow, well I just got off the phone…I don’t know WHY he wasn’t listed before now…I guess he just moved in, lucky us...

He was convicted in 1997 of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of a child under 13. The lady also indicated (more or less) that he was convicted of a sex crime that did not involve a minor at the same time, which is why they have him listed as a predator.

Ugh…

I also spoke with the County Sheriffs office, who told me that I could obtain a copy of his conviction at the County Courthouse, so I will do that next week. I intend to let ALL of my neighbors know what’s going on…this is so sad!