OH: Court Holds that Adam Walsh Act is Unconstitutional; Awaits Decision from Ohio Supreme Court

An Ohio Appeals court has held, again, that Ohio’s Adam Walsh Act do not apply to individuals who were originally sentenced under Megan’s Law. The court, however, is awaiting further guidance from the Ohio Supreme Court. The case is State v. Davis, 2012-Ohio-3570. In 2004, the Defendant pled guilty to sexual battery and gross sexual imposition. He was sentenced to five years probation. Pursuant to Ohio’s Megan’s Law, the sex offender registration system then in effect, the Defendant was classified as a sexually oriented offender, the least restrictive classification. As…

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OH: Community-based treatment is key for the rehabilitation of juvenile sex offenders

The state credits community-based treatment efforts, designed to deliver more effective rehabilitation and save money, for a 17 percent decline in juvenile sex offenders over a three-year period. The Ohio Department of Youth Services reported that 85 juvenile offenders were admitted into DYS in 2011 for sex-related crimes that included rape, gross sexual imposition and sexual battery. Year-to-date figures in 2012 suggest a 48 percent decrease in these type of offenders statewide. Full Article

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MN: Sex offender shoots prosecutor, 2 others in Minnesota courthouse, officials say (2011)

GRAND MARAIS, Minn. — A sex offender opened fire in a northern Minnesota courthouse shortly after being convicted Thursday, injuring three people — including the local prosecutor, authorities said. The suspect, Daniel Schlienz, 42, was taken into custody after the shootings Thursday afternoon at the Cook County Courthouse in Grand Marais, a remote town near the Canadian border, State Public Safety spokesman Doug Neville said. Schlienz, who had been on trial earlier Thursday on sexual misconduct charges. His father told the Duluth News Tribune that he went to the courthouse…

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AZ: Parents angry at law that allows sex offender to live near school

Some Mesa parents are outraged that a convicted sex offender lives near their children’s elementary school. What makes them angrier is that there is nothing they can do about it. The parents gathered at Superstition Springs Elementary School on Wednesday to pass out fliers to others dropping their children off on the first day of school. The fliers contain a picture of convicted sex offender Aaron Peeples and a warning that he lives nearby. Full Article

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U.S. Marshals target sex offenders on the run

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), there are about 500,000 convicted sex offenders across the country who do what they’re supposed to do: register themselves with the local police in their communities. But, according to NCMEC, about a 1 in 5 convicted sex offenders do not register themselves.   And local authorities don’t always have the manpower or resources to go looking for every one of them.  In response, the U.S. Marshals Service started a program called, “Operation Guardian,”  which has targeted the worst of the…

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Off Topic: NYPD unveils new $40 million super computer system that uses data from network of cameras, license plate readers and crime reports

The NYPD is starting to look like a flashy, forensic crime TV show thanks to a new super computer system unveiled Wednesday near Wall St. The Domain Awareness System designed by the NYPD and Microsoft Corp. uses data from a network of cameras, radiation detectors, license plate readers and crime reports, officials said. Full Article

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Sex Offender Appearing On ‘Our America With Lisa Ling,’ Tries To Restart Life

Travis accepted a plea deal — though he claims he’s innocent — which offered him five years probation instead of a lengthy prison sentence for indecency with a child. Within a month of cutting the deal, he violated his probation, which mandated that he couldn’t hang out with minors, and was sentenced to 20 years behind bars. He was released last December, having served 16. In the show, “Our America with Lisa Ling,” Ling follows Travis during his first free days as an adult, which have proven to be filled…

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Cashing in: AlertID Now Provides Free Sex Offender Alerts to 166 Million People

AlertID, Inc., which provides a free online and mobile service for members and public safety officials, today announced that it provides alerts from state sex offender databases (“SODs”) to 166 million people or more than half (53%) of the US population. AlertID, Inc., which provides a free online and mobile service for members and public safety officials, today announced that it provides alerts from state sex offender databases (“SODs”) to 166 million people or more than half (53%) of the US population. AlertID’s sex offender alerts are now available to…

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ME: New signs help enhance penalties for sex offenders in certain parts of Houlton

HOULTON, Maine — Residents will soon see new signs posted at Community Park, the Gentle Memorial Building and local schools declaring each of those areas to be a “Sex Offender Restricted Zone.” The signs are not being placed at the locations to deal with any specific problem involving convicted sex offenders hanging around schools or playgrounds, according to Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin. Full Article

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NY: City repeals sex offender law

With little options, the City of Lockport Common Council voted to repeal a local code regarding sex offender restrictions Wednesday. In July, City Attorney John Ottaviano recommended this decision based on the recent overturning of similar local laws throughout New York state because they are more restrictive than the state law. He said courts will not uphold this local law and will not enforce it. Full Article

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OK: Supreme Court Decision Could Knock Thousands Of Sex Offenders Off Oklahoma Registry

OKLAHOMA CITY –  There’s a fear thousands of sex offenders could drop off the Oklahoma registry and go unchecked. Some have been convicted of rape and child molestation, but want the state Supreme Court to give them a fresh start. Right now the state Supreme Court is looking at two specific cases and whatever the high court decides will set a precedent for all level three sex offenders statewide, including one local man whose daughter is pushing the court to look at individuals on a case by case basis. Full…

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Carlos Bustamante Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Assault Charges

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KTLA) — Santa Ana City Councilman Carlos Bustamante pleaded not guilty on Thursday to sexual assault charges involving multiple former female co-workers. Bustamante, 47, a married father of three, is currently free on $100,000 bail. A pre-trial hearing date has been scheduled for Aug. 30. He is charged with more than 12 felonies in connection with the alleged sexual assault of seven women while he was the director of Orange County Public Works. Full Article For more background on this story, see here.

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