"The" Kayleigh Kozak, professional victim, claims that AZ Gov is silencing her because she wasn't invited to cry at a speaking event

It is the Lauren Book of Arizona! She tried getting a bill passed that would have harmed families of Registered Persons, but thankfully the REAL Governor of Arizona has enough sense to veto the bill. So now "The" Kayleigh Kodsack is whining because the governor is not inviting her to a speaking event to whine and complain that The Karen didn't get her way.

That isn't being silenced. The media outlet below gave The Kuntleigh a playform. She still has a website. She gets to testify constantly. That's not being silenced. Trust me, politicians have ACTUALLY tried silencing me and my activism with SLAPP Suits and false allegations. I was arrested and forced to bond out for a crime I did not commit, and it took years to fight it in court. So fuck Kaylunkhead for even suggesting her voice is being silence. Shut up, Karen!

We don't need laws named after people, especially when someone is so arrogant that she feels to put THE in front of her name on social media. Repeal Kayleigh's Law, Arizona!

https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2023/04/15/officials-who-claim-to-support-victim-rights-go-on-offensive-to-silence-outspoken-victim-advocate/

Officials Who Claim to Support Victim Rights Go On Offensive To Silence Outspoken Victim Advocate

April 15, 2023 Terri Jo Neff

When the leaders of several agencies meet later this month in Phoenix to recognize National Crime Victims’ Rights (NCVR) Week, the one person who will not appear on stage is the event’s recently disinvited keynote speaker, victim advocate Kayleigh Kozak.

Kozak is the Kayleigh behind Kayleigh’s Law signed by then-Gov. Doug Ducey in 2021 to make it possible for survivors of sexual and domestic abuse to obtain a lifetime no-contact order against their assailants.

In January, Kozak was contacted by the committee organizing the April 25 awards event honoring the outstanding achievements and tireless efforts of those serving victims of crime in Arizona. She agreed to serve as keynote speaker for the event with its theme of “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.”

But Kozak saw that invitation formally revoked last week by Shawn Cox, a member of the event committee. Cox is head of the Victims’ Services Division within the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

If anyone from the committee thought Kozak would run and hide, they misjudged the lessons she has learned as a sex abuse survivor.

“I will not stay silent,” she said.

Cox, apparently unaware of the irony, advised Kozak that the awards event committee was troubled by Kozak’s use of her voice as a crime victim to decry Gov. Katie Hobbs’ veto of Senate Bill 1253. The bill sought to strengthen the community notification process involving registered sex offenders.

Another tweet by Kozak read, “I am just disgusted by the Governors decision & lack of understanding of this bill. It is beyond shameful, she is in fact prioritizing pedophiles over innocent children.”

Kozak recently spoke at length with Arizona Daily Independent about the last few weeks, starting with her joy that SB1253 made it to Hobbs’ desk, to her disdain of the veto, and her disgust with Hobbs’ “nonsensical” excuse for the veto.

“It reads as if the governor and her staff don’t even know how community notification works,” Kozak says in disbelief.

Kozak’s comments led to an email and a phone call from Cox who withdrew the keynote speaker invitation. During those communications, Kozak says Cox told her the committee was “concerned” with having Kozak on stage during the event which celebrates victims’ rights.

Cox refused to provide Kozak names for those on the committee who represent Hobbs’ office, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the Arizona Department of Corrections, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, and the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission.

One person Kozak has not spoken with since the disinvite is Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, to whom Cox reports. It is Mitchell who, as a county prosecutor 15 years ago, signed off on a plea deal with the school coach who sexually molested Kozak.

Kozak initially supported Mitchell’s run for office but that relationship has soured. Mitchell has not publicly commented on the SB1523 veto, something Kozak has noticed.

For Kozak, she has doubled down on her belief that she is being punished by government officials -elected and bureaucrats- for “having the courage and strength” to speak out against those who prioritize politics over policy.

“The officials I criticized are supposedly ‘uncomfortable’ with the prospect of sharing a stage with me,” Kozak said. “Well these are the same people who claim to support victims’ rights, but they didn’t hesitate to punish me for using my voice to express my opinion as a victim and survivor.”

Kozak’s ascent to a well-respected voice for victims grew out of an all-too-familiar tragedy for Arizona’s children – that of sexual abuse. Then in September 2022, Kayleigh’s Law went into effect, providing certain crime victims the option of

obtaining a special lifetime, no-contact injunction against their convicted assailants that a judge can only dismiss in limited circumstances.

But Kozak, the mother of five, was not ready to rest on that achievement. This legislative session she has been instrumental in four bills, including the vetoed SB1253 introduced by Sen. Janae Shamp.

Another by Shamp, Senate Bill 1284, stems from the fact the majority of sex offenders are ordered to serve lifetime supervised probation but prosecutors and judges in some counties liberally support an early end to probation. SB1284 has passed the Senate but is stalled in the House awaiting a final vote.

Kozak was also instrumental with the language contained in two Senate bills introduced by Sen. Sinn Kerr. The first, SB1583, seeks to ensure more registered sex offenders are listed on the DPS registry website. It too is stalled in the House.

The second, SB1582, makes technical correction to Kayleigh’s Law. The bill is currently on Hobbs’ desk after clearing the Legislature without any “no” votes.

If Kozak is worried Hobbs will veto SB1582 as retaliation, she is not showing it. Nor will she stay quiet in an effort to appease the governor or any other government official.

“I have been punished and ostracized for speaking my truth,” Kozak said. “They may have silenced me from giving my keynote speech, but I will not allow the governor or anyone else to tell me or any victim to stay silent.”

If passed as introduced, Arizona SB 1698 would force parents taking their kids to Drag Shows to register on the public sex offense registry

AZ State Senator Justine Wadsack, she's such a drag

The moment I saw a picture of AZ State Senator Justine Wadsack I assumed she wouldn't support such a bill. I mean, she looks like she participates in drag shows. Maybe she's self-loathing? There are some who are that way. They hate themselves so they bash something that's a part of who they are. 

I must point out that the engrossed version of the bill I saw removed the section I screenshot that included the "drag show" language. 

Bill Text of Introduced bill -- https://legiscan.com/AZ/text/SB1698/id/2670201

Bill Text as of 3/30/23 , where drag shows were removed but still added vague statement to the law-- https://legiscan.com/AZ/text/SB1698/id/2725925/Arizona-2023-SB1698-Engrossed.html

I'd also like to point out this segment is vague and could still be used to arrest those who engage in drag show performances since "prurient interest" is subject to the whims of people based on personal mores. 

Of course, the drag show segments can be reinstalled as the bill progresses, but even if it does not, the idea that AZ SB 1698 even suggested registering people for putting on a drag show is Shiitake-worthy. 

Article -- https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-senate-committees-pass-two-bills-in-gop-push-to-criminalize-drag-15604228

Arizona Senate Committees Pass Two Bills in GOP Push to Criminalize Drag

ELIAS WEISS FEBRUARY 24, 2023 12:15PM

A group of Republican state lawmakers focused on attacking LGBTQ Arizonans passed two bills that would criminalize drag shows, businesses that host them, and parents who take their children to see them.

SB 1698, sponsored by Senator Justine Wadsack, would make it a felony for parents to take their child to a drag show. The parents would have to register as sex offenders, too. SB 1030, sponsored by state Senator Anthony Kern, would make it a felony for some businesses to host drag shows.

Republicans in the Arizona Senate can’t decide if they want to label drag performers as sex workers or sex offenders. So, why not both?

Out to Lunch

SB 1698 would add drag shows to a state law about "dangerous crimes against children." The bill defines drag shows as adult-oriented performances and compares them to bestiality, child sex trafficking, second-degree murder, and sexual assault.

Under the proposal, adults who allow children to see drag shows could receive prison terms of five years and be required to register as sex offenders.

Wadsack said the idea for the bill came from conversations she had with the Log Cabin Republicans and Gays Against Groomers, two gay yet anti-trans conservative groups.

By a 3-1 vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill on February 16. Its next step could be a vote by the full Senate.

Kern, Wadsack, and fellow Republican Senator Wendy Rogers voted to advance the bill. Democratic Senator Anna Hernandez cast the lone vote against it.

Republican Senator John Kavanagh did not vote. Democratic Senators Christine Marsh and Mitzi Epstein also did not vote. Why not? Because Kern, the committee chair, asked lawmakers to leave the hearing in shifts for lunch so members could continue considering legislation on the agenda. Kavanagh, Marsh, and Epstein were the first to leave, along with several people in the audience scheduled to testify.

Then, the bill passed with virtually no testimony or discussion in mere minutes.

‘Your Rhetoric Has Led to Mass Shootings’

SB 1030 would require permits for drag shows and zone businesses that host them as an “adult-oriented business," citing the shows as “sexually explicit.” The bill lumps drag shows in the same category as cabaret, adult entertainment, and even sex work.

Under the proposal, drag queens wouldn’t be allowed within a quarter-mile of any school or playground.

By a 5-3 vote, the Senate Government Committee passed the bill on February 16, and it can now be considered by the full Senate. Wadsack, Rogers, and fellow Republican Senators David Farnsworth, Janae Shamp, and Jake Hoffman voted to advance the bill. Democratic Senators Juan Mendez, Priya Sundareshan, and Eva Diaz voted against it.

The proposal defines a drag show as one in which drag performers “engage in singing, dancing, or a monologue or skit in order to entertain an audience of two or more people.” Critics of the legislation said the broad definition was problematic.

“The definition of drag shows doesn’t actually say anything about sexually explicit content. This bill would include a lot of things that aren’t even drag,” Jeanne Woodbury, interim executive director for Equality Arizona, told Phoenix New Times. “That creates a huge problem that isn’t within the scope of actual adult-oriented businesses.”

Business owners who host drag shows are worried that the bill threatens their livelihoods.

“Bars like mine are only open to people over 21 and are already highly regulated,” said Jeff Parales, owner of Kobalt in Midtown. “This new regulation will put an undue burden on businesses like mine.”

Parales said that labeling all drag queens as sexually explicit is a “red herring.” The bill is similar to “what they’re doing in Communist China and totalitarian regimes like Iran,” he said.

Hoffman, the committee chair, interrupted Parales’ testimony. “In those countries, they throw homosexuals off of roofs and kill them. You are out of order. If you continue speaking, you will be removed,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman then admitted that he has never been to a drag show.

‘I Should Parent With My Values’

Parales pointed out that drag entertainers help raise money for charities and nonprofits in Phoenix and statewide.

“Instead of focusing on real issues like funding education, you’ve insisted on targeting an already marginalized community,” he said. “Your rhetoric has led to mass shootings and attacks at small businesses like mine and the people who go to them.”

Lydia Burton, a gay mother from Phoenix, has been taking her 8-year-old daughter to drag story hour at a public library since the child was in preschool.

“Because of drag, my child has learned to be brave and kind, colorful and creative, and that art has purpose,” Burton testified. “Drag is not defined by adult content. Drag is art. Drag is family. Drag is our church.”

Burton reminded the committee that, last year, Arizona Republicans passed a parental bill of rights that then-Governor Doug Ducey signed into law. The measure states that parenting decisions are “exclusively reserved to a parent of a minor child without obstruction or interference from this state.”

“Whether you understand my family and my culture is not relevant,” Burton said. “We should all agree that I should parent my child in accordance with my values. I have the right to direct the upbringing of my child, and the government shall not infringe on that.”

Elijah Watson, a local Democratic activist with Keep Arizona Blue, called the bill a clear and divisive attack against queer people and drag performers by subjecting drag shows to the same prohibitions as strip clubs.

“It perpetuates the myth that has been pushed this legislative session by Republicans that drag is a form of sexual entertainment and that drag is an art form that promotes pedophilia and the grooming of children,” Watson said. “It does not. To say that this bill is offensive is an understatement because it is very clearly discriminatory.”

Nobody testified in support of the bill.

Republican AZ Rep. Alexander Kolodin doesn't care that the children of Persons Forced to Register are bullied

If this bill becomes law, I hope Kolodin's child gets beaten up by a child that this idiotic bill ultimately harms.

https://www.azmirror.com/blog/school-notification-bill-could-mean-bullying-for-sex-offenders-children-critics-say/

Scottsdale Republican Rep. Alexander Kolodin said while he understood the concerns about the children of sex offenders being bullied, he would not allow his child to play with the child of a sex offender, because the offender might be present. 

“Honestly, it absolutely sucks for the children of those people that they’re going to be ostracized like that,” Kolodin said. “But my right as a parent comes first.”

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey vetos beneficial sex offense legislation over balanced budget dispute

I suppose I've seen dumber reasons to veto a beneficial registry reform bill, but pouting over a budget issue is pretty stupid. 

https://www.azmirror.com/2021/05/28/ducey-vetoes-22-bills-says-nothing-will-be-signed-until-budget-is-approved/

Ducey vetoes 22 bills, says nothing will be signed until budget is approved

By Jeremy Duda -May 28, 2021, Last Updated: May 28, 2021 3:00 pm

Gov. Doug Ducey is ratcheting up the pressure on GOP lawmakers to reach an agreement on the budget, vowing not to sign any other legislation that reaches his desk until he gets a budget, and backing up his threat by vetoing 22 bills.

Ducey made the announcement in response to both the House of Representatives and Senate adjourning until June 10 after Republican legislative leaders failed to round up a majority to pass the budget deal they forged with the governor. The GOP has only a one-vote majority in both legislative chambers and Democrats oppose the proposed budget, meaning Republican lawmakers must vote unanimously to approve the plan.

“We have the opportunity to make responsible and significant investments in K-12 education, higher education, infrastructure and local communities, all while delivering historic tax relief to working families and small businesses,” Ducey wrote on Twitter on Friday afternoon. “Once the budget passes, I’m willing to consider some of these other issues. But until then, I will not be signing any additional bills. Let’s focus on our jobs, get to work and pass the budget.”

The governor wasted no time acting on his ultimatum, vetoing all 22 bills that were on his desk. That list of bills included legislation to ban certain kinds of anti-racism training for government employees, a bill that would make it a felony for election officials to send early ballots to voters who don’t request them, a bill that make it easier for some low-level sex offenders to remove their names from the state’s sex offender registry and legislation improving treatment for pregnant prison inmates. 

“Some are good policy, but with one month left until the end of the fiscal year, we need to focus first on passing a budget. That should be priority one. The other stuff can wait,” Ducey wrote on Twitter. 

The arrest of Offendex extortionist Charles "Chuck" Rodrick is an event over a half-decade in the making

For nearly a decade, Charles "Chuck" Rodrick lived high off the hog by using the registry to extort victims out of millions. But his time is finally up. 

Look at those soulless eyes and that unkempt appearance. This isn't Rodrick's first rodeo. In fact, Rodrick and his cohort Oesterblad were busted for fraud back in the 1990s.

This arrest should have happened as far back as 2011. I'm not sure what finally prompted the FBI to finally lock this loser up. He has spent years avoiding the law while continuing his campaign of online terror, and soon he'll be more permanently in a familiar location.  Courtkey.com, formerly owned by Sucky Chucky, now owned by one of his victims, has full coverage of the Rodrick arrest. 

https://apnews.com/article/us-news-arizona-phoenix-ebb4b491d744316e6faa403b9d3697ac

Arizona man charged in scheme targeting sex offenders

By JACQUES BILLEAUD

4/8/21

PHOENIX (AP) — Three people have been charged with fraud in Arizona in what prosecutors say was a harassment scheme to get payments from sex offenders in exchange for removing their names from a website.

In an indictment released Thursday, Charles Rodrick of Scottsdale and Brent Oesterblad are accused of obtaining information from the National Predator Database’s site and posting it on a site created by Rodrick.

Prosecutors say Rodrick, Oesterblad and Sarah Shea then received money for removing the names from Rodrick’s site but failed to do so or republished the victims’ profiles on other sites owned by Rodrick. They also said the trio harassed others whose names weren’t listed in the National Predator Database by posting fraudulent sex offender profiles on Rodrick’s websites.

Rodrick, 60, was taken into custody Tuesday at Sky Harbor International Airport as he was returning from Costa Rica.

At Rodrick’s first court hearing, prosecutor Nicole Shaker said Rodrick has a separate $3 million civil judgment against him in Maricopa County for the victims in the criminal case, yet he hasn’t paid them anything. Shaker said Rodrick uses limited liability corporations and girlfriends to hide his assets.

At the hearing, Rodrick said the FBI had tried to build a federal case against him several years ago, but the case was turned down by a federal grand jury. “For this to surface now in 2021 is a shock to me,” Rodrick said.

Shaker disputed that the current case went before a federal grand jury.

Bond was set at $30,000 for Rodrick, who also was ordered to wear an ankle monitor when outside of jail.

Messages left Thursday for Rodrick’s attorney, Kristopher Califano, weren’t immediately returned.

It’s unclear whether Oesterblad and Shea have attorneys who can comment on their clients’ behalf.

Although Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s office released the indictment, the court file itself wasn’t publicly available at midday Thursday. Oesterblad and Shea didn’t have listed phone numbers.

QAnon-inspired bill in Arizona would make come CP offenses a Life Without Parole

"Save our Children" is QAnon, so using the crackpot theory of QAnon as the basis for legislation is idiotic to say the least. Next thing you'll know, AZ will be passing laws limiting windmills because the noise causes cancer. 

https://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/arizona_politics/bill-imposing-strict-punishments-for-child-sex-offenders-passes-arizona-house/article_c3fde39c-7bdc-11eb-90e4-f3b9be3028df.html

Bill imposing strict punishments for child sex offenders passes Arizona House

KIARA HAY 

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - It's a bill that comes on the heels of the Save Our Children campaign and a hashtag that dominated much of social media last year. HB 2889 would create a no nonsense approach to child sex crimes in Arizona.

Right now, in Arizona, a convicted child sex offender can face anywhere from 10-20 years in prison, and some have the option of probation, parole or work release. HB 2889 gets rid of that.

Arizona prison

Right now, in Arizona, a convicted child sex offender can face anywhere from 10-20 years in prison, and some have the option of probation, parole or work release.

"You've ruined people's lives. There should be no getting out early for anything," says bill sponsor Rep. Leo Biasiucci, a Republican from Lake Havasu City.

Someone convicted of producing or distributing pornography of a child 12 years of age or younger would serve life without parole, as well as someone convicted of sex trafficking. An exception would be instances of statutory rape, where an 18 or 19-year-old has sex with someone under the age of consent.

If the bill becomes law, Rep. Biasiucci says Arizona will have some of the strictest sex offender laws in the country.

The bill passed the House 51-1 with the Rep. Pamela Powers Austin being the lone opposing lawmaker.

"Justice is not blind or color blind in the United States and so mandatory sentencing is a part of the problem. If we had a fairer justice system, then the population in prison would look more like the population of the country and that's not the case," said Rep. Austin.

In the next few weeks, the bill will go to the Senate.

Jenny Day of KYMA 11 in Yuma AZ is 99% WRONG on re-offense rates but has a simple one word fix

I can think of a more fitting award for this bimbo...

Not only did she cite only one bogus stat, she made it a point to use that stat TWICE in this sweeps week fluff piece. Her stat is just an ass pull from a victim cult known as Amberly's Place.

She should just do her reporting wearing a shirt saying 97% of stats are made up, who cares about the other 4%"

But a simple fix could change this article, just add the word DON'T before the word "re-offense" and it would be correct.

https://www.kyma.com/news/released-to-reoffend-news-11-investigates-the-sex-offender-next-door-1/1142360703

Released to Reoffend: News 11 investigates the sex offender next door
By: Jenny Day 

Posted: Nov 14, 2019 06:57 PM MST

Updated: Nov 14, 2019 06:57 PM MST

News 11 investigates the sex offender next door:

Statistics show 99% of child sex offenders reoffend, yet they are still being released into our community. 

We spoke to police, probation, victim advocates, lawmakers and even knocked on the doors, of those who have spent years in prison and now have to register as a sex offender for life.

Convicted sex offenders have to inform law enforcement of where they'll be living, even if homeless these predators have to tell police something - even under the bridge off First Street is sufficient. Every time they move, police put it on social media, those who live nearby are alerted and we put it on the news. The goal isn't to instill fear, rather keep you informed.

"It doesn't mean something is going to happen, doesn't mean they're a violent person, we want you safe and to be alerted,"  Sgt. Lori Franklin said, of the Yuma Police Department.

In Yuma County, sex offenders are living among us.  "I don't know if we have more, or we are just reporting more," Stephanie Pla said, from Adult Probation.

On average - 60 people are on probation at a time, in Yuma County.  "We see a lot of child pornography, putting cameras where they shouldn't be and there's been an upswing in revenge porn," Pla said. Over the years, she's seen her share of success stories.

"They get married, have kids, get a good job and get back into society - there's nothing more rewarding." But she has also seen the other side. "A lot of it has to do with control. They are very narcissistic, they don't care who they hurt, as long as they can please themselves," Pla said.

We set out to ask them for themselves. After knocking on several doors, some convicted sex offenders told me to get off their property, others chose to tell their story.

"It involved me and my step daughter. She told her mom I was molesting her friend, but I was just fixing her bra."  This man spent decades in prison. He was convicted in 1981 for sexual conduct with a minor then again in 2001, for the attempted molestation of a child.

I asked, "Do you think you're a danger to children?  He replied, "I have grand kids. No!"

The Yuma County Sheriff's Department has listed him as level three, meaning he's been deemed the highest risk to re-offend - yet after serving his time, he is now a free man. "I don't really care what the public thinks, because I don't have to answer to the public."​​​​​​​

He took part in sex offender rehabilitation programs while in prison - that he says did help - possibly even shed light on a motive,  sharing with me, he was molested by his father, starting at just four years old. He says he endured that torture another 12 years.  "I assumed the same mindset, my core beliefs got warped."

Statistics show it is indeed often someone you know. "94% of the time, it's a family member,"  Dianne Umphress said, who started the family advocacy center, Amberly's Place in Yuma, 20 years ago. It's grown into an empire. She said, "We have five sexual assault nurse examiners on call 24-7. The youngest victim we've had was just four months." And the oldest to date - 85 years old.

In the first year, Amberly's place saw 48 victims come forward - now, they help about 2,500 people each year.  And still sexual assault is the most under reported crime; one in six women have a story to tell. "Seeing broken people come in here, and they leave not quite so broken, that's where my passion comes from," Umphress added.

Her motivation also comes from a murder that remains a mystery today. "Amberly was a young girl, she was murdered in her own home and sexually assaulted in 1996," Umphress said.

It was around the time, Dianne was building this safe haven for victims of abuse, to have a place to come forward and get help. She was given the blessing by Amberly Mendoza's mother. Since then, Amberly's name, story and legacy have helped change the lives of thousands of now survivors. "Even when the worst thing happens, there's life after abuse. You can survive. You can still have a happy life," Umphress said.

Through this story, I learned silence is the biggest factor for why abuse continues.

Everyone agrees, more needs to be done. Again, Amberly's place statistics have stayed the same for 20 years, showing 99% of child sex offenders re-offend.

Police catch the predators, probation keeps an eye on them, so change would really have to come in the form of a new law. I reached out to several lawmakers. Congressman Paul Gosar, (R) Arizona said, "It defies common sense that these offenders receive light sentences, and are often released into society when the data shows high risks of recidivism." He says he is looking for legislative solutions to 'hold these horrendous offenders accountable, and keep america's children safe.'

Representative Walter Blackman (R) Arizona, said in part, "There are some who believe we should include sex offenders as part of the criminal justice reform debate," but he says he can't support that.

And, Representative Tim Dunn (R) Arizona says "Longer prison sentences for violent, high risk sex offenders are only a partial solution – there also needs to be cooperation at the state and local levels to ensure that resources exist to both reduce recidivism and keep our communities safe."

Those convicted of child sex abuse serve between five years to life in prison, then those released are on probation for ten years to life. "Sex offenders are not allowed to be released early. They have to serve their entire sentence," Pla said.

Probation often includes drug and alcohol tests and random - surprise check ins. We just happened to be there for one. Officers showed up, as we were door knocking.  Registered sex offenders are also required to hand over the passwords to every electronic. The internet opens up your child, to a world of sexual predators.

ADDENDUM!

KYMA 11 attempted... BUT NOT SUCCEEDED... in making corrections to this brown journalism piece. Below is what they wrote, but honestly, this attempt at correction is virtual turd polishing.

According to the Department of Justice, the recidivism rate for sex offenders hovers around five percent after three years and 24 percent after 15 years.

According to SMART - The office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking, for pedophiles - it shows the highest rate for boy molesters after 15 years was 35 percent and for girls molesters, 16 percent.  A study conducted by Harvard Medical School shows recidivism rates between ten and 50 percent for pedophiles.

News 11 first reported that 99 percent of child sex offenders reoffend, after an interview with Diane Umphress, of Amberly's Place. Umphress clarified her comment by stating that  99 percent of pedophiles cannot be cured, meaning they will not lose their urge for children. Umphress says this number comes from a recent training done by National Children's Advocacy Center in Washington D.C.  https://www.nationalcac.org/

Exact re-arrest rates are not known, because these sex crimes against children often go unreported. Amberly's Place reports only one in nine children ever report abuse.

If you see something, say something, so when you see Cindy McCain, tell her she's Shiitake-Worthy

I wrote a Haiku for today's Shiitake Award nominee, Cindy McNo-brain:

Cindy McCain's brain,
Spots a "trafficking victim"
But she was wrong. Derp!

https://www.azfamily.com/news/cindy-mccain-claims-she-thwarted-human-trafficking-at-sky-harbor/article_c75a62c8-2a61-11e9-8073-f7fc698f277f.html

Cindy McCain claimed she thwarted human trafficking at Sky Harbor, police say she didn't
azfamily.com News Staff

PHOENIX, AZ (3TV/CBS 5)-- Cindy McCain was heard in a radio interview on KTAR Mac & Gaydos claiming she stopped a human trafficking incident at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, but Arizona’s Family has debunked that claim.

“I came in from a trip I’d been on and I spotted—it looked odd—it was a woman of a different ethnicity than the child, this little toddler she had, and something didn’t click with me,” McCain said in the radio interview. “I went over to the police and told them what I saw, and they went over and questioned her, and, by God, she was trafficking that kid.”

McCain went on to say that she discovered the woman was waiting for the man who bought the child to arrive from his flight.

Phoenix police said Wednesday that while officers did respond to the Jan. 30 call, at McCain’s request, they were able to determine “there was no evidence of criminal conduct or child endangerment.”

Arizona’s Family reached out to McCain for a statement Wednesday afternoon, but has not received a response.

McCain has since tweeted about the incident:


Cindy McCain
✔
@cindymccain
 At Phoenix Sky Harbor, I reported an incident that I thought was trafficking. I commend the police officers for their diligence. I apologize if anything else I have said on this matter distracts from “if you see something, say something”

2,739
7:00 PM - Feb 6, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
2,453 people are talking about this

Chris "The Pool Boy" Vogt from Mesa AZ threatens to commit a crime against registered citizens on live TV

The Arizona public registry states the following:

"THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS SITE IS INTENDED FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO THREATEN, INTIMIDATE, OR HARASS. MISUSE OF THIS INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. "

Chris Vogt just made a threat on live TV. He should be scrubbing jail showers instead of pools.

http://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/mesa/neighbors-plan-to-protest-sex-offender-house-in-mesa

Neighbors plan to protest sex offender house in Mesa
Kim Tobin
10:57 PM, Dec 10, 2015

MESA, AZ - People in one Mesa neighborhood are up in arms, ready to protest, after a halfway house for sex offenders opened up next door. The couple who owns the home says they are doing God's work, and they want to give the men a second chance. 

The home opened for business on November 21, off the Loop 202 and Power Road. It is located in the Desert Uplands neighborhood at 80th and Willetta streets.

Three sex offenders currently reside in the home. And the owners, Deborah and Steve Schmidt said they want more.

"We love them, we love them like family," said Deborah. "God doesn't draw the line there. He forgives all sins."

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office told ABC15 they did a check on the home to make sure the sex offenders are registered to live there, but that's the only involvement they've had in the whole process. 

The battle began when the Schmidt's sent out an invitation, inviting the neighborhood for a meet-and-greet to get to know the residents.

The whole situation has neighbors scared for their children and angry the home could even open up. 

"My daughter can't ride to her friend's house anymore because I don't know what’s going to happen here," said neighbor Chris Vogt. 

"I have two grandkids, a four year old and a one a half year old," said Joe Alsworth. "And I'm not going to have them over here anymore."

The Schmidt's claim they have experienced harassment, but they still plan to move forward.

"People are threatening to kill us, burn our house down, torture us and mutilate us," said Deborah. "It's amazing what good people will do."

Of the three men, Travis Deen Owens was convicted of sex abuse. And Michael Maurer is a convicted child molester. 

The men have served their time, but for neighbors like Vogt, she says having them next door is making her relive her nightmare. 

"We wish they would come over and get to know us and not just make a blanket judgment that everyone who has committed a sex crime is a horrible monster," said Deborah. 

The invite for the Saturday party will have some unwanted guests, as neighbors say they plan to protest in front of the home. 

"We are going to make them as uncomfortable as possible," said Vogt.

Maricopa County officials said the home is required to have a special use permit. As of Thursday night, they could not confirm if the Schmidt's have one. 

The neighbors have started a complaint with the zoning department. And zoning official said they will inspect the area and see if the home is in violation of zoning laws.

They expect to inspect in the neighborhood within the next 30 days. 

Copyright 2015 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Dale Wren interferes with hearing that would determine whether a man should be removed from the registry

This man is Dale Wren, an attorney working in Yuma County, AZ. Apparently he was also person who  tried unsuccessfully to get elected as a judge. Since he's not elected official, I did list him under worst politico.

To summarize the story below, this man interfered in a hearing to determine whether or not to remove a man from the sex offender registry and is trying to get the alleged victim to protest the bid for registry removal.

http://www.yumasun.com/news/sex-offender-registry-hearing-gets-continued/article_d74e7ad0-ddac-11e4-a9a5-c39be963147e.html

Sex offender registry hearing gets continued
Posted: Tuesday, April 7, 2015 10:05 pm | Updated: 10:06 pm, Tue Apr 7, 2015.
By James Gilbert, @YSJamesGilbert

A hearing for a Yuma man who was attempting to have his name removed from the state’s lifelong sex offender registry was continued recently when, by chance, the attorney of one of his victims asked that the matter be rescheduled.
Yuma attorney Dale Wren said he was at the Yuma County Superior Court on the morning of Feb. 19 when he noticed the name of James Anthony Cruz on Superior Court Judge Larry Kenworthy’s calendar and stepped inside the courtroom to find out what the hearing was about.
Upon speaking with the attorneys on the case, Wren said he was told the hearing was to consider a motion to terminate Cruz’s probation, which requires that he also register as a sex offender. He added he was also told that despite there being numerous victims in the case, only one had been notified about the hearing.
“I think it is outrageous. He needs to be monitored,” Wren said in an interview. “The lifetime probation was part of his sentence and was very important to all the girls. They will re-victimize these girls all over again if he is allowed to get off of probation.”
According to court records, on Aug. 18, 2000, Cruz, who was employed as a Community Supervision Officer for the Yuma County Juvenile Courts, was convicted of providing drugs to and having sex with several female juvenile probationers and was sentenced to seven years in prison, in addition to the probation.
The motion, which was originally filed by attorney Michael Donovan in August 2013, requests that the court terminate Cruz’s probation based on him having paid all the restitution that was ordered in the case, that he has been employed and on probation for the seven years following his release without incident, and that he had completed all of his court-ordered treatment.
Wren said that during that February hearing he informed the court that he was still in touch with some of Cruz’s victims and asked it be rescheduled to a later date, which would allow him time to inform them of the motion, as well as provide them with an opportunity to attend a future hearing on the matter or have him speak on their behalf.
“Almost all of these girls have got their lives together now,” Wren said. “It is hard to guess how (Cruz) getting off of probation would affect them.”
Wren said that he was unaware the Cruz has been trying to get his probation terminated for the past two years.
The problem, he explained, is that while victims are entitled to notification whenever the status of a sex offender changes, the girls were young at the time and didn’t request it.
“They figured he would be monitored for the rest of his life and are trying to forget about what happened,” Wren said. “Victims of this type of abuse don’t ever want to be reminded about it.”
Kenworthy granted Wren’s request and rescheduled the hearing to consider the petition to terminate Cruz’s probation for 2 p.m. on April 23.
Wren said anyone who was involved in the case who would like more information about the upcoming hearing can call his office at 329-1871.

Arizona's "Revenge Porn" bill apparently applies to far more than actual revenge porn

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for bans on so-called "revenge porn." I even spared the internet some potentially embarrassing photos I took with my ex-wife after our breakup. (You should all be thankful for that.) But you would think that someone, somewhere in that 90-person legislative body (91 if you count that idiot Jan Brewer), someone would have proofread the bill before they passed it. This is just more proof that when you add three letters to any bill, S, E, and X, in that order, a spell of Enfeeblement is cast over the legislature and bills pass without a single thought. But hey, it stops revenge porn so that's good, right? What could POSSIBLY go wrong with a hastily passed bill passed by emotional appeals? Read on...

https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech-national-security-technology-and-liberty/arizonas-naked-photo-law-makes-free-speech

Arizona’s Naked Photo Law Makes Free Speech a Felony

09/23/2014

Freedom of Expression

By Lee Rowland, Staff Attorney, ACLU Speech, Privacy & Technology Project at 12:24pm

Which of the following could land you a felony conviction in Arizona?

• Showing images of naked prisoners tortured at Abu Ghraib;
• Linking to the iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of “Napalm Girl,” showing an unclothed Vietnamese girl running from a napalm attack;
• Sharing a close-up photo of a woman’s breast with a breastfeeding support group;
• Waving a friend over to see a cute naked baby pic — like the one you see on this page.

Unfortunately, the answer is all of the above. That’s because Arizona recently passed a law that makes it a felony — and potentially a sex offense — to share any image of nudity or sexuality before you get consent from every person pictured.

Protecting personal privacy is, without doubt, a laudable goal. Indeed, the ACLU works tirelessly to protect your private data. But Arizona’s “nude photo law” is a seriously misguided attempt to achieve that goal. This new crime is broad and confusing. It applies to anyone who shares a nude image, not just to bad actors who intentionally invade another’s privacy. A prosecutor need not demonstrate that a person had an expectation of privacy in an image before charging you with a crime for sharing it. And the law applies equally to a private person’s hacked naked photo and a beautiful nude at a photography exhibit — because the law’s breadth encompasses truly newsworthy, artistic, and historical images.

As a result, the nude photo law creates bizarre and troubling burdens on speech fully protected by the First Amendment.

For proof that this law goes way too far and criminalizes innocent and valuable speech, you need look no further than the august group of bookstores, newspapers, photographers, publishers, and librarians that challenged the law together today (web page on case and complaint). Many of them belong to our stalwart First Amendment allies at the Media Coalition, whose members include the plaintiff associations of publishers, librarians and booksellers. Represented by the ACLU and Dentons US LLP, the plaintiffs just want to be able to offer books, art, news, and history without risking a criminal conviction in Arizona. That doesn’t seem too much to ask.

Proponents of the law indicated that it was intended to address the harms of “revenge porn” — a digital phenomenon typified by a scorned lover who maliciously posts private images of an ex online, often alongside her personal details. The harms of such conduct can be very real, and they predominately impact women. There are true horror stories about women who have suffered extreme humiliation and harassment, had intimate photos sent to relatives and coworkers, and lost job opportunities.

States can address these harms without treading on free speech, if and only if those laws are tailored to addressing malicious invasions of privacy. Arizona’s is not. And we’re not going to blindly trust that the government will apply this broad law responsibly, only against the “bad guys.” The photo above literally illustrates why.

One of the plaintiffs in our lawsuit, the Voice Media Group, publishes the newsweekly Phoenix New Times. The New Times published a series of images from a local art show by Arizona artist and Arizona State University Professor Betsy Schneider. One of the images from that art show is the great image above – documenting a month in Schneider’s infant son’s life.

Maricopa County publicly considered opening a police investigation into the New Times’ publications of these images, after police requested an investigation. A Phoenix city attorney told the press that if the photos were found to be illegal, “Everybody who picked up one those issues [of the New Times] could be prosecuted for possessing child pornography.” That’s what can happen when law enforcement officials wield problematic laws as broadly as they’re written.

The First Amendment just doesn’t permit that kind of carelessness. Laws meant to address real horrors need to do just that – without serving as Trojan Horses that erode our hallowed free speech rights.

Assistant US Attorney Bruce M. Ferg feels putting a ten year old kid is the "best thing that could have happened to the kid."

A ten year old boy is prosecuted in federal court and is forced to register as a sex offender, and the man responsible for prosecuting him says this:

"My opinion is this is the best thing that could've happened to the kid..."It is not vague to say, 'If you do this kind of activity, we don't care what age you are, you are liable for prosecution.' "" --  [Zusha Elinson (Oct. 7, 2013). Federal Youth Case on Trial: Prosecution of 10-Year-Old on Sex Charges Stokes Debate Over Juvenile Justice. WSJ]

Wrap your mind around that for a minute. I would just love to ask this smug son of a bitch how putting a child on the sex offender registry is the "beat thing that could've happened" to this kid. 

If you want to write this asshat:

Bruce Ferg

United States Attorney's Office

405 W Congress St Ste 4800

Tucson, AZ 85701

Office: 520-620-7300

Well, Joe Arpaio must have FINALLY done something wrong, because NOW he wants to harass registrants with a "volunteer posse"

It is hard to believe that America's DUMBEST sheriff, Joe Arpaio, has never been featured in the long history of the Shiitake Awards. And we all know that politicians tend to focus on sex offender issues only as a last resort, if they are in a scandal, or if that person needs to look like he's working. Well, we know Sheriff JOKE isn't a stranger to the scandals, nor has he needed attention. Thus, one can only wonder what his motivation is behind his "volunteer posse" to check on registered citizens. Did Joe FINALLY cross the line and is in danger of getting in trouble?

http://www.kpho.com/story/22833522/sex-offenders-are-they-obeying-the-law

Sex Offenders: Are they obeying the law?
Posted: Jul 13, 2013 5:48 PM EDT
Posted by Ceasar Hernandez 

Approximately 20 teams made up of deputies and volunteer posse will be checking on the compliance level of 81 level two and level three sex offenders currently residing in the Sheriff's jurisdiction.

The Sheriff's mission is to verify that these more serious sex offenders are obeying the law by truly living at the addresses they have on record with the criminal courts. Per Sheriff Arpaio's policy, these verifications must be conducted every six months.

If deputies/posse determine that the offender is not at the proper address, a detailed report will be given to the Sheriff's Sex crimes unit to follow up for potential criminal charges.

Failing to properly register is a class four felony.

While the Sheriff's Office does not believe that a high volume of sex offenders are out of compliance, this operation is to ensure total compliance, as the Sheriff has requested.