REGISTERED CITIZEN SUES CITY OF CYPRESS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE LIVING WITH FIANCEE [updated with media]

A lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court on August 13 challenges a new sex offender (“registrant”) ordinance in the City of Cypress that would force registrant Richard Linington to leave the home of his fiancée where he has been living since 2011.  The ordinance, which is scheduled to become effective on August 26, 2015, prohibits registrants from living within 1,000 feet of any school, park, or day care center. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order (TRO) that would maintain the status quo by preventing the ordinance from taking…

CITY OF CYPRESS AGREES NOT TO ENFORCE RESIDENCY AND PRESENCE RESTRICTIONS

The City of Cypress, located in Orange County, has agreed not to enforce most of its residency restrictions and all of its presence restrictions as terms of two settlement agreements reached on January 31. The City of Cypress also agreed to pay attorney’s fees and costs for the lawsuits filed against them in federal and state courts. In exchange, the plaintiffs in those cases have agreed to dismiss with prejudice the pending lawsuits. “This is a significant victory for the registered citizens and the family members of registered citizens in…

CYPRESS ORDINANCE CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL COURT

A registrant and his fiancée filed a lawsuit today in federal district court challenging the ordinance passed by the City of Cypress that prohibits most registrants from residing in the city as well as visiting public places such as parks, libraries and senior centers.  The ordinance was passed unanimously by the City Council on March 12, 2012. “The ordinance passed by the City of Cypress is egregious in that it prevents the owners of single-family homes, apartment buildings and hotels from renting to most registrants even on a temporary basis,”…

City of Cypress Adopts Punitive Ordinance

The Cypress City Council unanimously adopted a punitive ordinance that would deny the civil rights of registered citizens despite a recommendation from the City Attorney to delay further consideration in order to conduct further research. The City Attorney’s recommendation was consistent with a request from California RSOL that was submitted in writing as well as addressed during the City Council meeting on March 12. In its letter and oral testimony, California RSOL questioned the constitutionality of the proposed ordinance as it pertains to residency restrictions, park bans, hotel stays and…

CA: Pico Rivera Repeals Residency Restrictions

The City of Pico Rivera repealed its residency restrictions which prohibited registrants from living in most of that city, on either a temporary or a permanent basis, and the repeal of the city’s restrictions will become effective on July 12, 2018. The City’s repeal followed the filing of a lawsuit in federal district court on February 22, 2018. “The Pico Rivera lawsuit is number 30 of 31 lawsuits filed thus far challenging residency restrictions adopted by cities and counties,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci “The lawsuits have resulted in…

FL: Orange Beach homicide victim identified as registered sex offender

[weartv.com] The Orange Beach Police Department has identified a homicide victim as a registered sex offender. Police said 53-year-old Raymond Curtis Dudley has been identified as the body found Thursday near Cypress Street and Wolf Bay. Investigators say Dudley is originally from Massachusetts and a registered sex offender. Police are asking anyone who may have been in contact with Dudley on March 21 to contact them at (251) 981-9777. See original article  

GROVER BEACH REPEALS RESIDENCY RESTRICTIONS FOLLOWING LAWSUIT CHALLENGE

The City Council of Grover Beach, in a vote of 5 to 0, voted on September 8 to repeal a city ordinance that prohibited California sex offenders (“registrants”) from living within 2,000 feet of any school, park, or day care center. The action follows a lawsuit filed on June 17 by California Reform Sex Offender Laws President and attorney Janice Bellucci on behalf of registrant Frank Lindsay who has resided in Grover Beach for 18 years. “This decision is important because it recognizes that residency restrictions do not increase public…

Judge Denies TRO, Schedules New Hearing on October 1 [updated with media]

An Orange County Superior Court judge denied a temporary restraining order (TRO) requested by Richard Linington, a registered citizen, and Michelle Moreno, his fiancée, during a hearing on August 19 that would have prevented the enforcement of new residency restrictions in the City of Cypress. Also during the hearing, the judge recommended that the City refrain from enforcing the restrictions until an October 1 hearing on a preliminary injunction. “The City of Cypress has an opportunity to maintain the status quo by choosing not to enforce the new ordinance until…

California RSOL Opposes Punitive Ordinance Proposed by City in Orange County

California RSOL will publicly oppose an ordinance proposed by the City of Cypress that would prohibit all registrants from (1) living with 2,000 feet of a school, park or day care center, (2) being in close proximity of a child safety zone, (3) staying in a hotel that already has a registrant guest, and (4) celebrating Halloween. The Cypress City Council will consider the ordinance on March 12. “This is the most comprehensive and the most damaging ordinance yet considered by a city,” stated state organizer Janice Bellucci. “The ordinance…