Lompoc is the fifth city whose sex offender ordinance is being challenged in federal district court. The lawsuit was filed on April 21 in the U.S. District Court Central Division.
“The City of Lompoc was notified in January that its ordinance violates the state and federal constitutions yet the city failed to either repeal or stay enforcement of that ordinance,” stated attorney Janice Bellucci. “Lompoc did not learn the lesson of the first four cities to be sued — Pomona, South Lake Tahoe, National City and Carson — earlier this year.”
The Lompoc ordinance prohibits all California registered citizens from being in or within 300 feet of any public or private school, child care facility, library, park, school bus stop or playground. Violations of the ordinance could lead to up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.
“The impact of the Lompoc ordinance is that more than 105,000 registered citizens are not able to join family members and friends for a picnic in the park or to access public information in the library,” stated plaintiff Frank Lindsay. “This unjust law must be stopped.”
Another Monday, another lawsuit!
Thank you Janice! Hope you get a lot of attorney’s fees when you win. I love that you give us inspiration each week now. Who’s next?
I have lived without my husband in the home for 10 yrs because his civil rights have been interrupted. My husband and I have chosen to protect our children by living separate lives. He cannot find work or even a stable place to live. He has missed graduations, sports activities, and school plays of his children. As he has gotten older the ridicule and stone throwing has nearly killed him (literally). This man, my husband has been through more than any human should have to face. I feel blessed to have a man who can own the poor choice he made and withstand the life long punishment that comes from being forced into public humiliation. I would love to see some reform on the law that would allow these long term non threatening RSO’s some human rights. Most of my children are adults now they have become beautiful productive members of society with the help and self-sacrifice of a registered sex offender.
Thank you Janice for standing up for their rights. The lifetime sentence of registration is ridiculous. In addition, all the added restrictions are worse. Now, all you who are opposed, do your research. Most people do not realize what constitutes an “offense that requires registration.” A good many of these offenses do not involve children or any “victim.” Law enforcement, along with others, charge them with the worst possible crime (usually with guaranteed prison time) and then offer a plea bargain. Lawyers tend to encourage the acceptance of the plea bargain. This results in a “conviction for the DA’s office.” The accused doesn’t have to prove his/her innocence because the majority of the closed-minded citizens have already assumed, because the accusation was made of such a horrible crime, the accused is therefore automatically guilty. These convictions are what are filling the coffers of the prison/probation industry. By the way, I’m not advocating sexual abuse of children/anybody, I just believe there needs to be education of the public into preventing it and empathy towards those who are wrongfully accused. If you are accused, most times you are convicted with little or no evidence. What happened to innocent until proven guilty. Criminals convicted of more violent crimes do their time and get on with their lives. A high proportion of these will reoffend with a similar or more violent crime. There is no tracking system of them once they are off parole/probation. Not true, with the sex offender. It is a lifetime punishment that can result in deadly consequences for the offender through vigilantism. End the public registry and restore their constitutional rights. They have done the “so called crime” and have done their time. Again, Janice, thank you for all you do.