CA: ‘Halfway house’ draws protests from Ontario neighbors

Source: foxla.com 1/4/24 ONTARIO, Calif. – Ontario police began to notice a puzzling pattern when they saw eight convicted sexual predators all registered under the same address in the area. While that doens’t necessarily mean that all eight of the convicted residents live there at the same time, police say they had to follow up on some calls. Police also say they couldn’t find a business license for the home off East La Avenida Drive. Residents are accusing the controversial home of operating like a “halfway house,” drawing protests from…

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FL: Accused sex offender released back into community after being found incompetent to stand trial

Source: wftv.com 10/23/23 PINE HILLS, Fla. — A community learned on Monday that an accused repeat sex offender will be released back into their community, again. Channel 9 first reported on 56-year-old Joseph ____ since 2020. ____ has recently been found incompetent to stand trial and is not currently facing time for any of his charges.  In the courtroom, parents of the alleged victims were livid. They did not want him to be released anywhere near their daughters, who he’s accused of attacking in Pine Hills.  Deshawn Browdy spoke in…

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CA: Still many unknowns surrounding placement of sexually violent predator William Stephenson

Source: kcra.com 10/17/23 Placer County hosted a housing committee meeting Tuesday to inform the community about the release of William Stephenson, a man classified as a sexually violent predator. The Department of State Hospitals, along with Liberty Healthcare, which has been contracted out by the state to facilitate placement services, hosted the meeting which was attended by the public at the Placer County Community Development Agency building, and virtually, for people who couldn’t attend in person. According to the Placer County District Attorney, the Superior Court judge overseeing the case…

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AR: Arkansas Parole Board Denies Release to Sex Offender For Failure to Find Appropriate Housing

Source: prisonlegalnews.org 9/15/23 On February 2, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas dismissed a state prisoner’s habeas corpus petition challenging denial of his parole because he did not have approved sex offender housing. While bad news for him, the decision is instructive for any prisoner facing housing restrictions when paroled or on probation. Charles Isaac Wilson, Jr., is serving a 40-year sentence for a 2010 conviction for delivery of cocaine. In November 2021, the state Parole Board recommended he be transferred from the state Department…

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CA: Still no housing option for convicted sex offender Michael Cheek following state committee meeting

Source: lookout.co 9/8/23 Michael Cheek’s release remains in limbo as a state-mandate committee did not identify any viable housing options for him at its Thursday meeting. Cheek is due back in court Tuesday, when Liberty Healthcare Corporation — the state contractor trying to find him a home — is expected to bring more options. A state-mandated committee tasked with consulting on where convicted sex offender Michael Cheek should live in Santa Cruz County did not identify any viable housing options at its meeting on Thursday, prolonging a process that has…

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CA: New Bill To Prevent The Covert Release Of Sexually Violent Predators Into Communities

Source: californiaglobe.com 2/28/23 A bill to help prevent the covert releasing of Sexually Violent Predators (SVPs) into communities across the state was formally introduced into the Senate on Monday. Senate Bill 832, authored by Senator Brian Jones (R-San Diego) would aim to make the highest criteria of any potential placement of an SVP be that of public safety. The bill, also known as the Sexually Violent Predator Accountability, Fairness, and Enforcement Act (SAFE Act), would also require the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) to take ownership in the placement process…

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WA: Supreme Living Backs Off Plans for Sex Offender Housing Near Tenino

Source: chronline.com 2/28/23 Supreme Living announced on its website Tuesday that it no longer plans to house sex offenders at a housing facility in south Thurston County near Tenino. The decision came after outcry and outrage from residents and government officials caught off guard by the plans.  “Supreme Living announced today that due to resources and expenses associated with land use requirements, it will not proceed with providing supportive housing services at its Tenino property,” Supreme Living Management wrote. “Supreme Living values its relationship with the Department of Social and…

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WI: Mauston facing legal uncertainty over living facility for sex offenders: ‘They’re still going to need a place to live.’

Source: wiscnews.com 2/9/23 Tammy Most and her husband have three children, their youngest being an 8-year-old daughter. They moved into their house near the heart of Mauston’s historic downtown area in 2012, but they didn’t know that their new home would come with a constant state of unease. … Directly across from Most’s residence sits 108 Wisconsin Street. It’s a modest two-story duplex, and it’s served as a rental property since 1997. The City of Mauston is contemplating legal action that would evict its tenants — at least three sex…

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WA: Officials back out of Tenino town hall on sex offender housing after threats

Source: amp.theolympian.com 1/29/23 State officials backed out of a Tenino town hall about a planned sex offender housing facility due to safety concerns. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office organized the town hall last week in response to public uproar over the planned facility at 2813 140th Ave. Southwest. Sheriff Derek Sanders notified the public of the state officials’ decision on Saturday. “To say I’m infuriated and embarrassed is an understatement,” Sanders said in a Facebook post. “The public deserves to hear answers directly, and in a meaningful, engaging way, from…

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CA: Lakeside school leaders call for sex offender safety plan

Source: cbs8.com 9/26/22 AN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — There’s a new call for safety from Lakeside school leaders after a series of proposals to place sex offenders in an East County neighborhood. Frustration and worry have grown in Lakeside over a home that is housing a group of registered sex offenders in a family neighborhood. Neighbors say they checked the California Megan’s Law website, and were surprised to learn five sex offenders were living in the home. Last week, neighbors held signs near the home on Sesi Lane. The home…

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CA: Families protest halfway house for sexual offenders in Fairfield

Source: dailyrepublic.com 4/24/22 FAIRFIELD — Parents and residents near B. Gale Wilson Elementary School and K.I. Jones Elementary School are outraged to find a halfway house for sexual offenders is right in the middle of the neighborhood where their children go to school. About 25 parents came out Saturday to B. Gale Wilson to march to the halfway house, protesting all the way. Richard Creighton and his wife Evelyn have two little boys and they were stunned to find out about the halfway house. “We live right across the street…

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WI: Clock is ticking for county to find housing for person listed on the registry

[ehextra.com – 5/26/21] MARINETTE — Nothing has changed since about two weeks ago when Marinette County Administrator John Lefebvre told the Administrative Committee the county still has not found a place to house a person convicted of a Wisconsin Chapter 980 sex offense. If the county doesn’t find housing for that person by June 10, it could face monetary sanctions. … At Tuesday’s county board meeting, he said, “At the present time options for placement are limited to none. There are no good viable options.” The county received notice Feb.…

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WI: Pros and cons: Housing for released prisoners [including registrants] raises debate

[thetelegraph.com – 3/27/21] APPLETON, Wis. (AP) — Julie Angell was nervous. She was about to get out of prison, but didn’t have anywhere to go. Even with help, the challenges faced by many people getting out of prison can be immense and it isn’t uncommon for some to end up homeless if they’re unable to afford a place of their own or can’t find somewhere willing to rent to them. There is similar transitional housing in communities all over Wisconsin — 377 beds in 44 locations — meant to provide…

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