WISE COUNTY, Va. —An East Stone Gap community is concerned after learning a sanctuary for people with a sex offense conviction in their past might be intentionally relocated to their neighborhood.
Residents of the Inby Lane Mobile Home Park received this letter from their landlord.
Longtime resident Vernon Porch Jr. has an eight-year-old daughter. Porch says he plans to leave the mobile home park.
“Most of the time we have eight kids here just playing at my house and we can’t live here anymore if it’s going to be like this,” Porch said.
According to Virginia state law, people on the registry must live more than 500 feet from a church, school or daycare.
East Stone Gap Baptist Church is about 1,000 feet away from the mobile home park. Head pastor Lonnie Brooks says that’s still too close for his own comfort.
“I know the state police came and measured all of that to check that they were within those boundaries,” Brooks said. “But it still seems very close.”
Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chuck Slemp says he’s also concerned about the safety of the East Stone Gap community.
“Obviously we’re looking at it from every angle to determine what law enforcement or our county can do,” Slemp said. “We’re ready to step up enforcement and step up additional patrols. We’ll do whatever we need to do for the safety of the community and residents in that community.”
We reached out to Inby Home Trailer Park LLC for comment and have not yet received a response.
A public meeting about the proposed sanctuary is scheduled to take place on July 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Taylor-Lewis Baptist Community Center.
Virginia registrants, show up, stand up, and speak up to things like this or you will be shoved into industrial areas and homeless camps.
Follow the money. Doubtless, this mobile home park is doing this because they can make very good money overcharging the registrants for rent… because they have no where else they can live.
And, to the current mobile home residents, how many if you were the first to carry the torches and pitchforks and support every restriction the politicians came up with?? Oh well, look how that has turned out for you.😒
People forced to register should show up at the church meeting too so people can see that people convicted of a sex offense are also GOD’s children
“East Stone Gap Baptist Church is about 1,000 feet away from the mobile home park. Head pastor Lonnie Brooks says that’s still too close for his own comfort.”
Really, this is what a pastor said? I thought forgiveness overall is what the church is all about.
I live near Virginia but I have no idea where Wise Country is; however if I can make the trip I will. Doesn’t seem like the residents live up to the name of their county. Sounds like Judgement Pitchfork County
This situation certainly does sound like a good educational opportunity.
Veritas.
“Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chuck Slemp says he’s also concerned about the safety of the East Stone Gap community.”
Obviously he’s talking about all the drunk drivers, drug dealers, spouse abusers, burglars, etc.
Wise County
I was in attendance at Wise County I stood up as a registrant and spoke to a very angry crowd. I was surprised at Church people it was unreal.