Source: sjcitizen.com 6/18/25 Brian Pepin, a father of three and former member of the Poway City Council in California, publicly called for stricter sex offender residency restrictions during Tuesday’s St. Johns County Board of Commissioners meeting. Now a political consultant, Pepin recently moved to St. Augustine with his family and said that a registered sex offender moved directly across the street from their home. He shared the emotional impact this has had on his family during the public comment period. “Last week we learned that the guy that moved in across…
Read MoreTag: Florida
FL: New Volusia County’s short-sighted ordinance makes it harder to track down homeless sex offenders
Source: wesh.com 6/25/25 VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. —A new ordinance in Volusia County has resulted in an increase among the homeless sex offender and predator population on the streets. Deputies aren’t just checking on suspects, they’re surprising convicted sex offenders. However, the deputies don’t know where to look if the offenders are homeless and not showing up for check-ins. Nearly 1,000 offenders live in the county, and they’re subject to strict laws and quarterly compliance checks. If they’re homeless, they have to check in more frequently. Brandon Goggin with the Volusia…
Read MoreFL: Florida proposes another law named after a child victim
Source: thecapitolist.com 6/24/25 Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Tuesday announced that he will propose legislation aimed at eliminating judicial discretion in cases involving convicted sexual offenders and violent criminals who remain free on bond following a guilty verdict. … Uthmeier said the measure would require mandatory revocation of bail immediately upon a guilty verdict in cases involving sexual offenses, sexual predators, or violent crimes, preventing judges from permitting post-verdict release. The Attorney General blamed the court’s decision to allow Spencer to remain free for enabling the crime and said the incident…
Read MoreFL: Florida to seek death penalty for child sex offender in Putnam County for non-murder offenses
Source: firstcoastnews.com 6/20/25 PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — The State of Florida announced Friday it is seeking the death penalty for a registered sex offender accused of more child sex crimes in Putnam County. According to a May 16 post by the sheriff’s office, Welaka resident Dimeco _____, 34, was already a registered sex offender when he was accused in April of sex crimes with two children in Putnam County. Putnam County detectives were notified on April 30 of Dimeco ‘s possible sex crimes against the two children. Detectives spoke…
Read MoreFL: Florida AG Charges Registered Child Sexual Predator with Voter Fraud
Source: westorlandonews.com 5/18/25 A convicted felon and registered child sexual predator was charged with voter fraud in Florida by the Attorney General. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is charging Gerald ______, a convicted felon and registered sexual offender, with voter fraud. Gerald was charged with multiple counts of unqualified elector knowingly voting in the 2024 Presidential Preference Primary, 2024 Primary Election, and the 2024 General Election in Putnam County. “We must protect the sanctity and integrity of our republican form of government,” said Attorney General James…
Read MoreFL: Florida Ban on “Depict[ing] or Simulat[ing] … Lewd Conduct” in Performances Where Children Are Present Struck Down
Source: reason.com 5/13/25 A short excerpt from the long opinion today in HM Florida-ORL, LLC v. Governor, decided by Judge Robin Rosenbaum, joined by Judge Nancy Abudu: Justice Potter Stewart famously offered a non-definition of obscenity: “I know it when I see it.” Jacobellis v. Ohio (Stewart, J., concurring). Many know Justice Stewart’s quip. But it’s not, in fact, the law. The Constitution demands specificity when the state restricts speech. Requiring clarity in speech regulations shields us from the whims of government censors. And the need for clarity is especially strong when the…
Read MoreFL: ‘Not welcome here’: Clewiston passes law to keep sex offenders farther away from schools
Source: fox4now.com 4/22/25 CLEWISTON, Fla. — Clewiston passed a new ordinance to push sex offenders farther away from schools. On Monday, city council passed an ordinance requiring sex offenders to live at least 2,500 feet from schools, parks, and playgrounds. Until now, offenders only had to live 1,000 feet away – the minimum state requirement. Clewiston Police Chief Tom Lewis said the city needed to act after seeing more offenders move in – taking advantage of Clewiston’s less strict rules. He said this change brings Clewiston in line with nearby…
Read MoreFL: USF Reports Residency Restrictions Ineffective
Source: floridaactioncommittee.org 4/13/25 FAC came across the following presentation on a study from the University of South Florida, showing the effects of residency restrictions in Tampa, Florida. The conclusions were that residency restrictions have been ineffective. In fact, recidivism and the number of sexual crimes increased following their implementation. The topic is introduced at 1:09:20 and goes to 2:02:30 Read the report on the FAC website
Read MoreFL: The village of sex offenders
Source: bbc.com 3/12/25 Set among endless sugar-cane fields in a remote part of southern Florida, Restoration Destination is a community made up of registered sex offenders. Created by a Christian ministry as a response to state laws which ban them from living close to where children gather, it is now home to more than 100 men who have been placed on Florida’s sex offenders register for life. Through therapy, counselling and support, Restoration Destination aims to reduce their likelihood of reoffending and help them reintegrate into society. Journalist Conor Garrett…
Read MoreApartheid’s shadow vs. America’s Stain: which country’s sex offender registry leads on human rights?
Source: Florida Action Committee 3/20/25 On one side we have the United States – the “land of the free”, “with liberty and justice for all” and the self-appointed global moral compass. On the other side we have South Africa, a nation historically scarred by apartheid, oppression and human rights violations. Which country is showing the world what real progress looks like? In this case, South Africa, is putting the U.S. to shame when it comes to respecting human rights and insight into effective criminal justice. Earlier this year South Africa…
Read MoreFL: Scammers target sex offenders in Steuben County with fake warrant claims
Source: newportdispatch.com 3/18/25 BATH — The Steuben County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning about scammers impersonating law enforcement officials to extort money from registered sex offenders. Sheriff Jim Allard reports that scammers are contacting registered sex offenders claiming to be members of the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office. The fraudulent callers tell victims that arrest warrants have been issued due to missed DNA submissions. The scammers then demand payment through “non-traditional means” to have the supposed warrants vacated. Officials emphasize that the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office never solicits money from…
Read MoreFL: Florida to consider statewide ‘animal abuser registry’ following Molly’s Law in Marion County
Source: wesh.com 3/9/25 MARION COUNTY, Fla. —An effort is underway to create a statewide registry of animal abusers, and it’s being championed by a woman in Marion County who led the push for a countywide abuser registry named after the pup she adopted. Molly, a dog who was found severely beaten and stabbed, would later be adopted by SPCA of Ocala President Lilly Baron. “It was just a feeling of this dog’s meant for me,” Baron said. After she adopted Molly, Baron took her on tour to various community events…
Read MoreFL: UPDATED 3/5/25 Putnam County Sheriff’s Office: ‘Cesspool of sex offenders’ cleared out of local trailer park
3/5/25 UPDATE: firstcoastnews.com “Tents housing sex offenders behind Putnam County Sheriff’s Office headquarters taken down” 3/3/25 UPDATE: actionnewsjax.com “‘It’s just rough’: Registered sex offenders in Putnam County claim to be displaced” Source: actionnewsjax.com 2/28/25 PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — A “cesspool of sex offenders” was cleared out of a Palatka trailer park on Friday afternoon, according to Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach. On a Facebook Live, DeLoach said more than 22 convicted predators and sex offenders living in the area were cleared out. The trailer park, located at 3600 Balsam Street,…
Read MoreFL: Liking Post That Contains Porn Deepfake Can Lead to Liability, Court Says in Megan Thee Stallion Lawsuit
Source: reason.com 2/7/25 At least this is so when defendant “also … allegedly directed viewers of her post to click on her ‘Likes’ page where the video had been archived” (not clear what the judge would have thought if the case involved solely the “like”). Under Section 836.13, Florida Statutes, a plaintiff may bring a civil action against anyone who “willfully and maliciously promotes” an “altered sexual depiction” of her without her consent. The statute defines “promote” broadly, covering actions like publishing, distributing, exhibiting, or presenting the altered content. ……
Read MoreFL: Police officers continue to avoid sex offender registry
Source: wtsp.com 1/28/25 Four different charges were dropped against Markanthony ____, meaning he won’t have to register as a sex offender. A former officer with the Bartow Police Department accused of sexually exploiting teen girls has been sentenced to one year in prison, but will not have to register as a sex offender, according to court documents. Markanthony pleaded guilty to four counts of giving alcohol to someone under the age of 21, child abuse and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. However, documents revealed that the following charges…
Read MoreFL: Florida appeals court rejects ‘sex predator’ label rule for driver’s licenses
Source: clickorlando.com 1/10/25 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A divided appeals court Friday ruled that a state requirement for convicted sexual predators to have the words “SEXUAL PREDATOR” on their driver’s licenses violates First Amendment rights. The 2-1 decision by a panel of Florida’s 5th District Court of Appeal said the required designation is compelled speech that is not narrowly tailored to meet the state’s goals of informing the public about the presence of sexual predators. The ruling, which came in a Sumter County case, would not affect Florida’s system of publishing information…
Read MoreFL: Registered sex offender steps down as SRSO volunteer after social media blowback
Source: pnj.com 1/6/25 After much furor amongst social media community groups in Santa Rosa County, a registered sex offender who volunteered in the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office’s new Chaplain Unit has stepped down. In a since-deleted Facebook post by the SRSO, the department announced the launch of their new Chaplain Unit after Christmas. A photo included in the post shows a group of deputies and volunteers, including Charles Martin. Following the announcement, many on social media pointed out that Martin is a registered sex offender. According to the Florida Department of Law…
Read MoreFL: ‘Let Parents Decide’ What Kids Can Do Online, Argue Tech Groups in New Lawsuit
Source: reason.com 10/30/24 The groups are challenging a Florida law that bans some teens from social media. The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and NetChoice, two prominent tech-industry trade groups, have filed a lawsuit against a Florida statute barring younger teens from social media. Their suit—filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida—cites First Amendment concerns with Florida House Bill 3, which the groups also portray as an imposition on parents’ rights. “Florida House Bill 3 is the latest attempt in a long line of…
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