Author: R H

FL: FDLE beginning investigation into death of Blackwater Corrections inmate

R H

Source: yahoo.com 8/3/22 The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating an inmate’s death at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility. FDLE’s Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams told the News Journal the agency is investigating the death of 35-year-old Andrew Thompson, but could not provide further information. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Thompson died on July 27. Thompson was arrested in March 2021 and was sentenced to 45 years in prison on April 4, 2022, after pleading no contest to 12 counts of possessing child pornography and one…

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PA: Court upholds sex offender registration as constitutional

R H

Source: huntingdondailynews.com 8/3/22 An attempt by a Petersburg man to be released from lifetime sexual offender registration failed last month when Pennsylvania’s Superior Court asserted registration is a “non-punitive, collateral consequence of his conviction” and not a violation of his constitutional rights. … According to the decision issued by the Superior Court in Howard’s case, Howard argued lifetime registration is “cruel and unusual punishment” and therefore violates his constitutional rights as outlined in the U.S. Constitution’s 8th Amendment. In its decision, written by the state Judge Alice Beck Dubow, the…

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IL: Plan moves ahead to create Joliet park too close for sex offenders to remain in their apartments

R H

Source: shawlocal.com 8/4/22 The city of Joliet is about to become the owner of a fire-damaged house acquired for the strategic purpose of forcing out registered sex offenders who live a block away. The Joliet City Council on Tuesday approved the acquisition of the unoccupied house at 1000 N. Center St. at a price of $124,000. City officials, siding with Cunningham neighborhood residents alarmed about an apartment house that has been converted to living quarters for a half-dozen registered sex offenders, say they intend to build a park on the…

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TN: Tennessee nurses push for new law to add protection from sex offenders

R H

Source: wkrn.com 8/4/22 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nurses in Nashville are hoping to put a new bill on the books that would add another layer of protection against registered sex offenders. “We face anything from any gross sexual comments, people have been threatened, and unfortunately, they have been trapped in a room where the patient has been a wall between the door and the nurse themselves, so it’s scary,” said nurse Ciearria. She asked News 2, not to reveal where she works but says sexual harassment has become a constant.…

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NC: ‘Operation Simon Says’: Authorities conduct sex offender compliance op in Union County area

R H

Source: fox46.com 8/3/22 MONROE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Law enforcement officers conducted a “large-scale sex offender operation” around Union County late last month to ensure that convicted sex offenders in the area were in compliance with state laws, according to the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said teams from UCSO, the U.S. Marshals Service and the NC Department of Public Safety conducted compliance checks on around 75 convicted sex offenders. Out of the 75 offenders, authorities said 53 were in full compliance with their registration, residential and personal restrictions…

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CA: False Government Documents Used in Scam Netting About $10,000

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Source: ACSOL It has been reported that false government documents were used this week in a scam operation netting almost $10,000 from a registrant.  The false documents reportedly required the registrant to pay a large sum of money in order to avoid arrest. The false government documents included an “Order of Arrest” from Riverside County that appeared to be signed by both a judge and a police sergeant.  The false documents also included a document from the Office of the Governor and the California Sex Offender Management Board. “The use…

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CA: ‘We just keep punishing.’ Californians with criminal records still face housing barriers

R H

Source newsbreak.com / Los Angeles Times 8/2/22 Cynthia Blake lives cramped in a tiny studio apartment in Long Beach, in a space divided into four units that used to be a church. There is no bathroom inside her home; it’s outside in a different part of the building. Blake, 53, remembers the $1,050 apartment being advertised for a long time, as interest in the odd setup was low. Still, she felt she had to lie to be considered a potential renter: she did not check the box that asked if…

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IL: Former B-N piano teacher sentenced to life in 2nd sexual assault case

R H

https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2022-08-01/former-b-n-piano-teacher-sentenced-to-life-in-2nd-sex-assault-caseSource: wglt.org 8/1/22 A former piano teacher serving 450 years for sexual assault of one of his students was sentenced to life in prison Monday for similar charges related to a second student. Aaron ____ , 41, was convicted in April in connection with an ongoing sexual relationship with a minor girl that lasted years and began when she was a minor. The life term handed down by Judge Casey Costigan is in addition to the 450 years Aaron received in January, also given by Costigan. Read the full article…

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NY: New York Enacts Revival Statutes, Renewing Expired Claims for Sexual Assault

R H

Source: weil.com 8/2/22 In 2019, the state of New York passed legislation extending the statute of limitations for civil causes of action for certain sex offenses from three years to 20 years. However, that law was prospective only. Now, New York is providing recourse for sexual assault survivors whose civil claims have expired. On May 24, 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Adult Survivors Act (ASA) into law. A so-called “revival statute,” the ASA provides a one year window for adult sexual assault survivors to bring otherwise time-barred…

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FL: WESH 2 Investigates allegations of sex offenders being allowed to vote

R H

Source: wesh.com 8/1/22 Morris ___ lives in Poinciana. Elections office records indicate he’s “eligible to vote in Osceola County.” His status is “active,” meaning he can vote next month and this November in Osceola County and in the 2020 general election, he did vote. Morris is also a registered sex offender. Because of this, he should be ineligible to vote under Florida law. WESH 2 checked online with the executive office of clemency, under Morris’s name and prison ID number. It confirms his civil rights have not been restored. By…

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CA: Appellate Court Rejects Challenge to Tiered Registry Law

R H

Source: ACSOL The Third District Court of Appeals has rejected a challenge to the Tiered Registry Law that, if granted, would have reassigned individuals convicted of Penal Code Section 288(c) from Tier 3 to Tier 2.  According to the court’s decision, individuals convicted of Penal Code Section 288(c) are not similarly situated to individuals convicted of Penal Code Section 288(a) who are assigned to Tier 2.   In the challenge, attorney Jill Klein argued that individuals convicted of both offenses were based on the same type of conduct and therefore the…

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KS: Kansas Supreme Court Holds Registration Violation is a Strict Liability Crime

R H

Source: floridaactioncommittee.org 7/31/22 Not knowing you have to register something or not having the mental capacity to understand how to register is not a defense to a registration violation according to the Supreme Court of Kansas. A person required to register in Kansas was convicted of a failure to register offense. He was required to report quarterly, every May, August, November, and February, plus changes.On September 18, he went in to report a change of phone number. He went in again on October 9 to report an address change. But…

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Janice’s Journal: A Difficult Decision

R H

The vigil planned for Washington, D.C., in March 2023 was my idea.  My idea was a vigil that would take place near the date of the 20th anniversary of a terrible mistake made by the U.S. Supreme Court.  A mistake that has led to significant harm experienced by at least one million families.  A mistake that had led to unemployment, homelessness, vigilante violence and even suicide. The purpose of the vigil was to educate the U.S. Supreme Court and the public regarding the tragedies that have flowed from this decision. …

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CA: Ex-Clovis teacher sentenced for sex with student. Victim’s family wanted harsher penalty

R H

Source: yahoo.com/Fresno Bee 7/27/22 A former Clovis music teacher won’t serve jail time for having sex with a minor. Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jonathan Skiles on Wednesday sentenced Amanda ___to two years of probation. She also must register as a sex offender for at least 10 years. Amanda previously pleaded no contest to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse and one count of oral copulation of a person under 18, both felonies. In sentencing her, Skiles told Amanda that she violated her position of trust as a teacher and…

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RealPage incorrect sex offender data $9.73M class action lawsuit settlement

R H

Source: topclassactions.com 7/28/22 RealPage agreed to pay over $9.73 million to resolve claims that it violated the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by allowing incorrect sex offender registry data on tenant screening reports. The class action lawsuit settlement benefits individuals who were subject to a RealPage report between June 14, 2017, and March 2, 2021, where the report included a record from a sex offender registry with the record matching the report subject based on the birth date range, but where further review shows a differing birth date. RealPage…

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IN: VCSO: Man says he shot a sex offender

R H

Source: tristatehomepage.com 7/28/22 VANDERBURGH CO., Ind. (WEHT) – The man accused of shooting and killing another man on Maggie Valley Drive in Vanderburgh County apparently did so because he thought the man he shot was a sex offender. Ricky Allen Kiper Jr. was arrested Wednesday and charged with the murder of James Christopher McClernon.  An autopsy shows McClernon died of multiple gunshot wounds. According to court documents Kiper showed up at a home where McClernon was staying around 3:00 Wednesday afternoon.  The documents go on to say Kiper, McClernon and…

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FL: CALL TO ACTION: Brevard County Commission Meeting

R H

Source: floridaactioncommittee.org 7/27/22 The agenda for the forthcoming Brevard County Commission meeting has been posted and they WILL be discussing the amendment to their sexual offender/sexual predator ordinance. We are calling upon members to appear at the Commission meeting to speak against the ordinance and show support for the other members who will speak against it. The meeting will take place on August 2, 2022, 5:00 PM, at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, FL 32940 This is our opportunity to show up and speak out, please, please, please do…

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