SOUTH ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) –
A Metro East dad is upset he’s been banned from seeing his newborn at the hospital because he’s a registered sex offender.
The man has asked to remain anonymous to protect his wife and children.
“They shouldn’t have to pay the consequences for something I did when I was young and stupid,” said the dad.
The man was 19-years-old when the offense happened in 2004. The victim of the aggravated criminal sexual abuse was 13.
14 years later, he is a husband and a father.
His son was recently born about a month early and was rushed to the hospital after he stopped breathing.
The dad said he showed up to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and his I.D. was checked, which is hospital policy.
“They called security and explained because I was a registered sex offender I had to have an escort to go anywhere,” he said.
The hospital confirms to News 4 that is their policy.
The dad signed a paper and agreed to be escorted. He was then taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to be with his wife and son.
He said he didn’t have cell service in the building and asked a nurse for an escort to go to the parking lot to make calls.
“She said you don’t need an escort for that you can just go on your way,” he remembered.
He was stopped by security on his way out and has since been banned from returning.
I can only hope a major lawsuit is pending. I’m sure his wife needs her husband’s support when she visits their son, and she’s being denied that support.