Too bad I can't find a pic of this guy anywhere online, and I looked for quite a while. What I've been able to gather is that Thomas Judge works for Troop G of the NY State Police.
https://artvoice.com/2019/01/14/albany-area-state-trooper-lies-in-court-is-caught-sex-offender-gets-10-years-shave-off-sentence/#.XD5Ais9Kjq0
Albany area State Trooper lies in court, is caught; sex offender gets 10 years shave off sentence
January 14, 2019
Frank Parlato
Because a New York State Trooper, Investigator Thomas Judge, admitted during cross-examination in Rensselaer County Court last week that he lied while testifying in the trial, sex offender, Christopher Downey, 32, will serve only 15 years instead of facing 25 years behind bars.
Why did the sex offender get to shave 10 years of his prison sentence?
Downey was facing 25 years for felony predatory sexual assault against a child, felony first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, felony second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.
The prosecution was forced to offer him a plea deal: First-degree sexual course of action with a 6-year-old girl, rather than risk the impact the lying state police trooper might have had on the jury.
But how about State Trooper Thomas Judge? Normally perjury is charged against lying witnesses. But don’t count on it when a New York State Trooper lies. At least not anywhere near Albany.
“The revelation that the State Police investigator admitted to testifying falsely during the trial played a large role in the DA deciding to offer a more favorable plea agreement,” said Joseph Ahearn, the county defender assigned to represent Downey.
Ahearn said he wants to see the district attorney’s office and the State Police examine Trooper Judge’s testimony. “We should all expect more from the State Police,” Ahearn said.
But, will it mean that the man charged with enforcing the law for others, will have the law enforced against him? Like the laws against perjury.
Likely not.
Ahearn aggressively questioned Trooper Judge last Wednesday morning in court about his interrogation of Downey and his testimony during the trial, catching Trooper Judge in obvious lies.
“So, you testified falsely in this courtroom,” Ahearn asked him, to which Trooper Judge responded, “Yes.”
Assistant District Attorney Cheryl McDermott argued that Trooper Judge merely misspoke while testifying. McDermott said, “It doesn’t rise to perjury.”
By Wednesday afternoon, in what must have been seen by some as an attempt to intimidate the jury and Judge Young, several State Police investigators came to the courtroom for Trooper Judge’s return to the witness stand.
County Court Judge Debra Young, taking all due care to protect the lying policeman, asked Trooper Judge if he wanted an attorney present to advise him after he was accused of lying during his testimony.
Just then, high priced criminal defense attorney George E. LaMarche III, of Dreyer, Boyajian, LaMarche, Safranko of Albany arrived to advise Trooper Judge and spin the blame on the public defender.
“Joe Ahearn is a crafty cross-examiner who can confuse an officer during cross-examination. Do I think the officer lied during cross-examination? Absolutely not,” LaMarche said after court concluded.
“Tom …. was not testifying falsely,” LaMarche said after the trial.
It is not known who is paying LaMarche’s bill.
Judge Young met with attorneys for both sides and, perhaps in an unusual move, allowed Trooper Judge’s attorney LaMarche to meet in chambers with them before the plea deal was announced.
“We have conferenced this matter extensively,” Judge Young said before the plea deal was offered on the record by McDermott.
Now, none of this excuses the conduct of the pervert. Indeed, wimpy perv Downey cried and sobbed and his body shook when the plea deal was entered. His lawyer gave him a handful of tissues at one point for him to blow the excess snot dripping from his nose.
But what happens when a society regularly lets people tasked with enforcing the law have a different set of laws for their own conduct. Imagine if you had lied in court – possibly setting up innocent people – like I suspect was done in the Nxivm case. Or making dumb defendants look guiltier than they really are.
What would happen to you?
The actions of State Trooper Thomas Judge will likely never be investigated, let alone prosecuted.
For his part, pervert Chris Downey perhaps can thank Tom Judge for lying. Downey will now go to prison and get out – with good behavior – in his early 40s, instead of his mid 50s.
And Trooper Tom Judge will get away with lying under oath and likely no one will ever report on this story again. If they do, or if by some miracle the DA dared to bring charges against Tom Judge, you can best believe there will be a cadre of State Troopers in the courtroom looking as menacing and intimidating as they could possibly be for the judge and jury to note.
In this instance, I think Judge Young was scared. Everyone was scared. A State trooper lied and got caught.
And only the latter was anything unusual.
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Thomas Checci from Staton Island Live and his slimy Op-Ed proposes registering low level registrants for life
This is what happens when Staten Island hires the village idiot to write an OpEd.
https://www.silive.com/news/2019/01/sex-offenders-need-more-supervision-follow-up-programs-commentary.html
Sex offenders need more supervision, follow-up programs (commentary)
By Thomas Checchi | checchi@siadvance.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- One of the nearly 400 sex offenders living on Staten Island has done it again, this time for showing a photo of his genitals to his granddaughter.
His prior offense was molesting a 12-year-old girl. He served a state prison term from 2009 until he was paroled in 2011. He went on the New York State Sex Offender Registry as a Level 1 offender.
Even though the mother of this most recent victim made it clear to the Island’s Family Court that her daughter was not to be left alone with her paternal grandparents, and the court acknowledged he was registered sex offender, according to court documents obtained by the Advance. But the young girl was placed there anyway.
Six months later the offender showed her the photo and was arrested again.
While it’s clear the courts and law enforcement agencies that handle cases like this are caught in the complex web of regulations and protocols, a few simple changes would go a long way toward protecting the innocent from predators.
In the case the Advance exposed, following the most recent arrest, a temporary order of protection was issued and the grandfather was released on his own recognizance and is no longer living in the home.
When the grandfather went on the sex offender registry in 2011, he initially was not supposed to have any contact with children under 18 years old unless under the supervision of another adult. But once his supervision ended in 2013, those stipulations ended.
That’s a problem.
That regulation, for the even the lowest level sex offender, must remain in place for good.
Once a sex offender of any level is no longer under any form of supervision, parole or probation, the Sex Offender Registry Act does not say where they can or cannot live. It’s up to specific localities to deal with that through legislation.
Here’s something for Staten Island elected officials to consider: A local law that prohibits a convicted sex offender from living under the same roof as a minor.
MANDATED FOLLOW-UP THERAPY
Like alcoholism or drug addiction, sex offenders act out an anti-social, illegal and destructive behavior that’s part of their mental makeup.
Just as substance abusers enter and remain in recovery by attending therapy and 12-step programs, why can’t sex offenders be mandated to do something similar?
There are groups such as Sex Addicts Anonymous that would be appropriate for people like this grandfather. Why can’t sex offenders be required to attend?
Also, Level 1 offenders are considered “low-risk” of re-offending, and in New York, their names cannot be seen on the public registry. Instead, you have to call a hotline to confirm they are on it.
Level 1 offenders should be on the public registry along with those at Levels 2 and 3. Simple.
Once sex offenders are off supervision, local police agencies step in to monitor offenders to ensure they are in compliance with the law.
But the registry only serves as a source of information to make the public aware of offenders and has no role in actually monitoring them.
Ongoing monitoring and a required treatment program of some kind could prevent someone like this grandfather from committing a sex offense again.
For progress to be made, the courts, the Administration for Children’s Services, the Sex Offender Registry and other agencies involved must coordinate and reshape their efforts.
Friday, January 25, 2019
Arkansas isn't waiting until Halloween to scare the public with an unnecessary Halloween Bill (SB 10)
The bill would not prevent offenders from giving a child candy if they're the child's parent or guardian, or from wearing a costume if they're a parent or guardian of all the children present.
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2019/2019R/Pages/BillInformation.aspx?measureno=SB10
State of Arkansas
92nd General Assembly A Bill
Regular Session, 2019 SENATE BILL 10
By: Senator T. Garner
By: Representative Petty
For An Act To Be Entitled
AN ACT PROHIBITING A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER FROM PARTICIPATING IN CERTAIN HALLOWEEN-RELATED ACTIVITIES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
PROHIBITING A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER FROM PARTICIPATING IN CERTAIN HALLOWEEN17 RELATED ACTIVITIES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 5, Chapter 14, Subchapter 1, is amended
to add an additional section to read as follows:
5-14-135. Registered offender prohibited from participating in certain Halloween-related activities.
(a) It is unlawful for a person who is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act of 1997, § 12-12-901 et seq., and who has been assessed as a Level 3 or Level 4 offender to knowingly:
(1) Distribute candy or any item to a minor as part of a Halloween-related event; or
(2) Wear a mask or other costume as part of a Halloween-related event if a minor is present at the Halloween-related event.
(b) It is not an offense under:
(1) Subsection (a)(1) of this section if the person is a parent
35 or guardian of a minor to whom the candy or item is distributed; or
(2) Subsection (a)(2) of this section if the person is a parent or guardian of all minors present at the Halloween-related event.
(c) A violation of this section is a Class D felony.
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Captain Mike Merkel of the Lincoln Co MO Sheriff’s Dept thinks Registered Citizens go around teaching
https://fox2now.com/2019/01/21/lincoln-county-trying-to-keep-track-of-growing-number-of-sex-crime-cases/
Lincoln County trying to keep track of growing number of sex crime cases
POSTED 10:26 PM, JANUARY 21, 2019, BY CHRIS REGNIER
TROY, Mo. – It is the number one case for detectives at the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department: sex crimes – especially those involving children.
Investigators say it’s a growing problem in Lincoln County and they’re concerned that the problem could get worse.
Captain Mike Merkel, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, says 70 to 75 percent of the department’s criminal investigations are sex crimes. And in 90 percent of those cases, Merkel says the victims are children.
“The majority of our kids that are victimized are victimized by a close family friend or a family member,” he said.
“I think this is a black eye in the dark underbelly of society that nobody wants to talk about, nobody wants to address. If you turn your head, it’s not there but it’s there. It’s absolutely there. It’s present in our community; it’s present in every community across the United States.”
Merkel says there are several reasons for the amount of child sex crime cases in Lincoln County: more reporting of suspected cases, more aggressive investigations, and access to technology for predators.
But there is another issue – the number of sex offenders living in Lincoln County.
Authorities say there are 180 registered sex offenders who call Lincoln County home. That’s one offender per 312 residents.
In fact, we’re told Lincoln County has more sex offenders per capita than at least six other counties in our area.
“It worries me professionally,” said Detective Sean Flynn, who helps to track the sex offenders in Lincoln County.
Flynn says more offenders are coming to the county because of restrictions on how close they can live to things like schools and daycares.
“It’s harder and harder for them because of what the laws are to find places to live in the more densely populated areas like St. Charles County and St. Louis County, so it’s pushing them out farther to more rural areas,” he said.
Flynn and Merkel say that increase could contribute to the sex crime case numbers.
“There is a percentage of them who have re-offended,” Flynn said. “There are some that are currently under investigation.”
“If you put registered sex offenders in an area and there’s already non-registered sex offenders there, well then they can work together and figure out how to victimize more children.” (Editor's Note: You have to watch the video embedded in the article to realize that it was Captain Merkel's voice making this statement, NOT Flynn. That is why he gets the nomination over Flynn)
And here is the troubling bottom line.
“As time goes on, there are more people being convicted of sex offenses, so we’re going to see an increase in the number of sex offenders every year,” Flynn said. “The number is not going to decrease.”
'Know who your kids are hanging out with, know where your kids are going, know the offenders that reside in your area.'
Flynn says investigators conduct surprise checks on Lincoln County sex offenders to make sure they are complying with the law. He and Merkel say sheriff's department detectives are doing all they can to keep residents safe.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Chris Hansen's ego is writing checks his body can't cash...
 |
| Hansen's MUGSHOT LOL |
...nor can his bank account cover the costs, apparently. Take a seat, Chrissy!
Apparently, Chrissy's gig at Crime Watch Daily wasn't very profitable.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/%E2%80%98to-catch-a-predator%E2%80%99-host-chris-hansen-charged-with-bouncing-checks/ar-BBSkBLm?li=BBnb7Kz
‘To Catch a Predator’ Host Chris Hansen Charged With Bouncing Checks
To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen was arrested and charged on Monday, January 14, after being accused of issuing bad checks, the Stamford Police Department in Connecticut confirms to Us Weekly.
According to police, the 59-year-old asked Promotional Sales Limited owner Peter Psichopaidas for 355 ceramic mugs, 288 T-shirts and 650 vinyl decals to use at marketing events. Psichopaidas said the merchandise was delivered in 2017, but Hansen failed to pay the bill of $12,998.05.
An arrest affidavit obtained by The Advocate claimed that the store received a check for the entire amount, but it bounced. Hansen apologized to Psichopaidas and attempted to make a partial payment. By April 2018, the store owner still had not received the money so he filed a complaint with police.
An investigator reportedly called Hansen, but the TV host never showed up at the police station. The newspaper reported that Hansen later promised Psichopaidas that his wife would drop off a check, but she never came either.
Investigator Sean Coughlin said in the affidavit: “I told Chris that I understood that he may have trouble, but that nearly $13,000 is a lot of money to a ‘mom-and-pop’ business and it is not fair that he accepted the material but hasn’t paid for it.”
Psichopaidas received a personal check from Hansen for $13,200 later that April, but it bounced three days after, according to The Advocate. The business owner then fired off an email to Hansen that read: “Peter … I truly thought I had this covered. I am scrambling to get it done. Please give me till the end of the day. I sold a boat to cover the rest of this and need to pick up the payment this afternoon.”
Hansen never sent another check. He turned himself in to police on Monday and was charged with issuing a bad check. He was released without bond after signing a written promise to appear in court.
The journalist hosted To Catch a Predator on MSNBC from 2004 to 2007. He now hosts Investigation Discovery’s Killer Instinct and the syndicated show Crime Watch Daily.
Friday, January 11, 2019
Sweetwater FloriDUH cops beat down innocent brother of registrant, police chief claims no wrongdoing
Police corruption is commonplace in South Florida, but Sweetwater FL might have the taken the cake. Sweetwater already has a long history of police brutality among other coverups. The short story here is that a registered person hit a police cruiser and the police chased that person, presumably to beat the person down. Instead they found the guy's brother and attacked him and the man's mother. Of course, you can rest easy knowing Chief Flaccid-O Dumbass investigated and found no evidence of wrongdoing so far.
https://www.local10.com/news/florida/miami-dade/tough-takedown-by-police-caught-on-camera-in-sweetwater
Tough takedown by police caught on camera in Sweetwater
Police seen in video punching brother of suspect for whom they'd been searching
By Christian De La Rosa - Reporter
Posted: 6:11 PM, January 10, 2019
SWEETWATER, Fla. - A tough takedown by police was caught on camera Wednesday morning in Sweetwater.
In the video, Sweetwater police officers are seen punching the brother of a suspect for whom they were searching.
The suspect's mother and brother spoke to Local 10 News on Thursday about the incident.
They shared their home surveillance video with Local 10 News reporter Christian De La Rosa and even showed him their bruises.
The video shows one Sweetwater police officer throwing punches and pushing a woman back, while another officer is seen placing a man in a choke hold.
A second man is cuffed on the ground.
"Can you see in the video they punched me and throw me away?" Ana Schaublin asked.
Schaublin showed De La Rosa the bruises she claims she suffered from police.
"They are animals," she said.
Sweetwater police told Local 10 News they arrived at the home on Southwest 20th Terrace looking for a driver who hit an officer and who later bailed along with two other men.
The driver, identified as James Castro, is a registered sex offender and lives at the home with his family.
The man seen punched and violently restrained by officers is Castro's brother, who claims he was not in the vehicle.
"I haven't seen my brother since Dec. 26," he said.
The Sweetwater police chief said the two men arrested at the home were believed to be in the vehicle with the suspect and were charged with resisting officers.
The third suspect is still at large and his family said they have not seen him. They are demanding the officers involved in the incident be investigated for abuse of force.
https://wsvn.com/news/local/surveillance-video-appears-to-show-officer-punching-man-outside-sweetwater-home/
Surveillance video appears to show officer punching man outside Sweetwater home
SWEETWATER, FLA. (WSVN) - A doorbell security camera captured officers allegedly beating up a man outside a Sweetwater home.
Sweetwater Police arrived at the home located along Southwest 20th Terrace and 129th place, at around 3 a.m., Wednesday.
Officials said the officers were searching for a suspect who rammed an officer with his car.
When officers arrived at the home, they found a man matching the description of James Castro, the wanted suspect. Actually, he was not home at the time.
Instead, officers came across his brother, Christian Castro.
“I heard ruckus. I came outside, and next thing you know, I’m being arrested,” he said. “I’m being bullied. I’m being hit. I’m being harassed.”
In the video, his brother Gary is seen coming out of the home with his hands up.
“Grab these people!” officers are heard shouting. “Start grabbing people!”
Shortly after, both brothers were detained, and Christian was put in a choke hold by one officer.
Another officer is seen running up to him before allegedly throwing punches.
“I got hit right here. I got hit right here,” Christian told 7News while showing the bruises and lumps on his face. “I got hit right back here.”
Their mother was also seen being pushed while trying to help her son.
“I get out over here and say, ‘Please, please, please do not hurt my son,'” Ana Schaublin said.
However, the Sweetwater Police chief said the video does not show all of the facts.
“From the onset, you’re looking at a snapshot in time and not the totality of circumstances,” Placido Diaz said. “I’d like to have time to digest it. Obviously, if somebody committed an error or made a mistake, they will be held accountable. At this point, I have no reason to believe that.”
While police begin their lengthy investigation and the family recovers from the horrifying ordeal, James remains on the run.
His girlfriend is now pleading for him to return home.
“I don’t want anything to happen to him,” Yanet Portales said. “I just want him to come back home to his family. We have a family. The baby misses him. We all miss him.”
Both brothers were arrested and released. They face charges of resisting arrest.
The officers in the video remain on duty as police continue to investigate.
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Elizabeth Smart gets the first nomination for a 2019 Shiitake Award for supporting residency restrictions
I get it, Smart holds a grudge against this woman, but Smart comes out as a proponent of idiotic residency restrictions, and that makes her Shiitake-worthy.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/elizabeth-smart-wanda-barzee-elementary-school_us_5c2bc8bde4b05c88b70373bd
Elizabeth Smart Unhappy Her Kidnapper Is Living Near An Elementary School
Registered sex offender Wanda Barzee was released from a Utah prison in September.
headshot
By David Lohr
lizabeth Smart is upset the registered sex offender who helped abduct her when she was a teenager is living near a Utah elementary school.
“Whether a person is deemed a current threat or if they have a history of child abuse, neglect, sexual violence, etc., prudent measures should be taken, including housing them as far away as possible from schools, families and community centers,” Smart said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press.
According to Utah’s sex offender registry, Wanda Barzee, 73, is living in a Salt Lake City apartment located about one-tenth of a mile from Parkview Elementary School. The school has students from kindergarten through fifth grade.
Smart was 14 in June 2002, when she was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home by Barzee and her then-husband, Brian Mitchell. Smart was held captive for nine months, during which time she was threatened and sexually abused. Her ordeal ended in March 2003 when a viewer of “America’s Most Wanted” spotted the trio in Sandy, Utah, and notified police.
Mitchell is serving a life sentence for kidnapping and raping Smart. Barzee was paroled in September after serving less than a decade behind bars. She was released despite refusing to take a psychological exam while incarcerated.
“It is incomprehensible how someone who has not cooperated with her mental health evaluations or risk assessments and someone who did not show up to her own parole hearing can be released into our community,” Smart said at the time.
Barzee, who is required to be under federal supervision for the next five years, does not appear to be violating any laws with her current living arrangements. The conditions of her release do not specify how close she can live to a school, according to The Associated Press.
Utah state law does require registered sex offenders whose victims were 18 or younger not to live within 500 feet of schools. However, Mapquest indicates the shortest route from Barzee’s apartment to the elementary school is roughly 528 feet.
Still, Smart, now 31 and married with three children, would like to see individuals such as Barzee kept farther away from places frequented by children.
“Every possible caution and protection should be taken when it comes to protecting our children,” Smart told the AP.
Monday, December 17, 2018
Rachel DePompa and NBC12 Virginia is seriously doing their readers "hard" with their sweeps week scare story
http://www.nbc12.com/2018/12/12/sex-offenders-find-ways-skirt-facebooks-ban/
Sex offenders find ways to ‘skirt’ Facebook’s ban
Social network launches investigation, responds to findings
By Rachel DePompa | December 12, 2018 at 4:00 PM EST - Updated December 14 at 7:57 AM
RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - One-and-a-half billion users are on Facebook every day. And among those profiles are people who are not allowed to be on the platform, according to Facebook.
Those are people like 56-year-old Robert Gale Wojda, of Richmond’s Northside. Wojda has been convicted of child exploitation offenses in Florida, Ohio and Virginia.
“Part of his probation was that he was no supposed to be on social media of any kinds, whatsoever," said Richmond Police detective Mary Gary Ford. And yet there he was using Facebook to engage in sexually explicit conversations with minors. “Thankfully his probation officer just checked and she found a Facebook profile for him with his photo and you could tell he was actively like posts."
According to Ford, court filings and the Virginia Attorney General’s office, Wojda admitted to sending explicit photographs through Facebook. Ford actually spoke with Wojda and got his consent to search his phone. On it she found sexual conversations with a 14-year-old girl in Georgia.
“It was a very traumatic experience for her and she was isolated and alone and kind of containing all this inside herself for along time,” added Ford. She says Wodja is far from the only predator using social media.
“The frightening part is the number of people doing what they’re doing and that’s just what’s being reported,” said Ford.
Facebook has a specific policy that bans convicted sex offenders, but in less than two hours NBC12′s investigation easily tracked down 16 different registered sex offenders in Virginia with what appeared to be active Facebook profiles. NBC12 only searched halfway through the letter "c" in the alphabet on the sex offender registry.
NBC12 found offenders of all races and of varying ages all with profiles active within the last year. Some of their criminal records included labels like “sexually violent offender.”
The investigation found offenders convicted of “rape” in Henrico County. Others convicted of “carnal knowledge of children as young as 13” and even a person accused of “enticing a minor to perform in pornography.”
Facebook immediately launched an investigation and disabled the accounts after NBC12 reported the findings.
A spokesperson said, “Facebook’s Terms of Service explain that we prohibit convicted sex offenders from using Facebook and disable accounts that violate this policy as soon as we’re aware. We respond to reports from our community but also take action and disable these accounts when we identify them ourselves. We disabled the accounts you shared as soon as we confirmed they were in violation of our terms of service.”
“You never know who you’re talking to on the other side of the computer,” said Briana Valentino, a forensic interviewer with Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now). “Kids are very accessible to people who mean do them hard.”
She often interviews the children abused by predators. And more often than ever before, she finds the abuse started online.
“What we tend to see for kids who’s experienced trauma online, it’s a lot of internalized behavior. Feelings of guilt, feelings of shame. That they are the one’s that have done something wrong,” said Valentino.
Ford often works with SCAN and is investigating multiple active cases in Central Virginia. She has the unenviable job of talking to child predators like Wojda.
“He indicated that looking at adult pornography just doesn’t do it for him," Ford said.
Wodja ultimately pleaded no contest to electronic solicitation of a minor and is now serving 20 years in a Virginia prison. His capture is a victory for investigators like Detective Ford.
But she knows there are more predators out there. That’s why she needs parents to help and have age-appropriate, non-judgmental conversations with their children and teens.
“They this is something that could happen. If it does, just stop what you’re doing, come to me. Talk to me. we’ll work it out together. You’re not in trouble," said Ford.
Ford says there are steps you can take to be proactive.
First, don’t let children have their phones in their bedrooms at night. And consider this rule: tablets and computers should only be used in open areas of the house.
Also parents should research and know the apps that are out there and what’s currently popular with teens.
To report a sex offender on Facebook click on this link. The site says you’ll need to provide one of the following types of information with your report:
A link to a listing in a national or state sex offender registry.
A link to an online news article.
A link to a court document.
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Cyrano's Theatre Co. in Anchorage AK set to fire RC after Internet trolls stir up controversy
It is a shame to see anyone give a second chance to someone but then buckle to social media backlash. Social media is a mental illness.
https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Cyranos-Theatre-drops-actor-who-is-a-registered-sex-offender-social-media-backlash-502520071.html
Cyrano's Theatre Co. will drop an actor who is a registered sex offender after social media backlash
By Rebecca Palsha | Posted: Tue 3:52 PM, Dec 11, 2018 | Updated: Tue 4:48 PM, Dec 11, 2018
ANCHORAGE (KTUU) - A registered sex offender who performs with Cyrano's Theatre Co. will no longer be acting with the company.
Jenson Seifert lists Cyrano's as his employer on the state's sex offender registry.
He is a former teacher at Birchwood Christian School who was charged, and later served time, for sexually abusing a minor.
At the time, police accused him of molesting a 14-year-old boy repeatedly, including while he was a chaperoning a youth outing.
Cyrano's says Seifert has been a performer with the company for about a year and that it was encouraged to work with him after he successfully performed at other places in Anchorage.
"He was doing all that was asked of him, which does not negate or condone his crime in any way, and we were very clear in our communications with him, and he also with us, but he has made all of the steps to work toward rehabilitation and second chances," Teresa Pond, the Producing Artistic Director at Cyrano's said. "And we felt that warranted an opportunity, again based on the fact that he had already had success working in theaters and being successful, with a second chance."
But on the theatre's Facebook page a debate ignited about how transparent Cyrano's was and if Seifert should be able to perform with the company.
Alaska Theater of Youth, which had a pop-up camp last week at Cyrano's, says it was unaware of his involvement. ATY says it was assured that Seifert had no contact with any of the children at the camp.
"That was my main concern. The children's safety, was my first priority," Hanna Bankston with ATY said.
Tuesday afternoon, Cyrano's updated its Facebook page and said registered sex offenders will be prevented from working at Cyrano's in any capacity.
"We know the community would prefer that we don't have someone who is on the sexual offender registry in our shows, and that is absolutely fine," Pond said. "We support all of those people those who have been victims, anybody who has found this to be difficult and upsetting, and that's far more important to us."
Seifert is in a production with Cryano's that will run two more weeks. Pond said he will continue in those plays but they will be his final performances.
If you want to post your disapproval of the Theater's decision, the link is here:
https://www.facebook.com/cyranosAK/posts/10156969629078658
Thank you to the many community members who have reached out to engage with us in direct dialogue over the past few days. The voices we have heard from our community of artists makes it clear that a change going forward is warranted.
We remain committed to our mission, which includes ensuring that we provide a safe and trusting place for our community to create and experience art. We neglected to communicate clearly to some members of our Cyrano’s community and their families, that an individual, previously convicted of a sex offense, was serving as an actor in a Cyrano’s production. Of the voices we heard during this process, some had concerns for the safety of their families, and the ability of Cyrano’s to maintain that safe and trusting environment. We are deeply sorry.
After a thorough review, we have identified a need for change. For future productions, the Board has implemented a policy which will prevent anyone listed on Alaska’s sex offender registry from working at Cyrano’s in any capacity. This is not the end of our work on this matter, and we will continue to engage in dialogue on the best ways to forward our mission and serve the community we all love.
Cyrano’s Theatre Company
Monday, December 10, 2018
Floridiot Edward Bowman wants legislation to ban registrants from hospitals
What is it with Floridiots talking long walks to pass bad legislation. You want to take a long walk? Take it on a short pier.
https://floridaactioncommittee.org/man-pushes-for-laws-to-keep-sexual-predators-out-of-hospitals/
Man pushes for laws to keep sexual predators out of hospitals
Dec 7, 2018 | 31 comments
75-year-old Edward Bowman is pushing legislators to create a law, “Clara’s Law”, to be named after his late wife Clara Mae, that would ban sexual predators (not sure whether the term “predator” is used to distinguish the different classification or if it’s used by him synonymously with “offender”) from nursing homes, hospitals and medical facilities all over the country.
In 2006, Edward’s late wife was sexually assaulted by a male nurse and he has been on a crusade since to get a law passed in her memory. This year, he is going to walk 237 miles from Mount Dora to Tallahassee, to meet with Florida lawmakers.
While Mr. Bowman has a sad and compelling story, he’s missing the mark on some facts.
Firstly, the nurse who assaulted his wife was not on the registry. Therefore, “Clara’s Law”, had a version been in effect back then, would have done nothing to protect Clara.
Secondly, the overwhelming majority of sexual assaults are committed by first time offenders. If another patient is assaulted by a healthcare worker, there’s a 97% base chance that it would be by someone not on the registry, further reduced by the fact that it’s unlikely that a hospital worker with such a criminal history would be working in a capacity where they could assault a patient, making the odds negligible.
Third, the unintended negative consequences of a law that would ban registrants from hospitals, would be that they would be prevented from visiting with loved ones, including their own children (see: https://floridaactioncommittee.org/wi-registrant-father-wins-right-to-visit-sick-son-in-hospital/, https://floridaactioncommittee.org/registrant-denied-access-to-hospital-for-sons-surgery/, https://floridaactioncommittee.org/sex-offenders-banned-from-florida-hospital/).
Bowman has been pushing for a “Clara’s Law”, in one form or another, for over a decade. Prior versions would have required healthcare facilities to report incidents of sexual misconduct (not convictions, but reports) to the state Health Department and potentially a national clearinghouse, but those measures failed.
We can understand Mr. Bowman’s desire to memorialize his wife, but banning an entire class of former offenders from hospitals – the effect of which could be to prevent children facing scary medical procedures from the comfort of their parent – is not going to do Clara any justice.
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Allegheny Co PA Common Pleas Judge Donna Jo McDaniel gets booted from resentencing hearing of SO
An appeals courts rules against your court ruling and remands the case for resentencing. What do you do? If you're Donna Jo McDaniel, you respond by making the same ruling in defiance. This worthless excuse of a judge needs to be removed from the bench.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/11/28/allegheny-county-judge-donna-jo-mcdaniel-sex-offender-superior-court-remand/stories/201811280162
Superior Court removes Allegheny County judge from sex offender's resentencing
PAULA REED WARD
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
pward@post-gazette.com
NOV 28, 2018
The state Superior Court, in a rare move Wednesday, ordered Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Donna Jo McDaniel to be removed from a case, finding that there was “substantial evidence” that she “demonstrated bias and personal animus” against both the defendant and the public defender’s office representing him.
The three-judge panel of the appellate court wrote a blistering 13-page opinion that also ordered that Anthony McCauley be sentenced again by a new judge. It is one of a series of opinions by the Superior Court dating to January 2017 in which Judge McDaniel has been questioned for her sentencing of sex offenders.
“The trial court’s animus and hostility to appellant’s counsel and the [Allegheny County] Public Defender’s office appears to be deep, unwavering and demonstrates an unjustified bias against the Public Defender’s office,” wrote Superior Court Judge Alice Beck Dubow.
The Superior Court also criticized Judge McDaniel for using inappropriate sarcasm in her written opinion; for denying McCauley a fair and constitutional sentencing hearing; and for failing to follow previous Superior Court orders, therefore wasting judicial resources.
Ordered to redo an 'unreasonable' sentence, judge responds by imposing the exact same punishment. In a footnote, the appellate court also chastised her for including the full name of the child victim in McCauley’s case in her opinion.
“Not only do we disapprove of this practice, but it is also contrary to [Pennsylvania law], which makes it a criminal offense for an officer or employee of the court to reveal the name of a minor victim of sexual abuse in documents available to the public,” Judge Dubow wrote.
Although the prospect of referring Judge McDaniel to the Judicial Conduct Board was raised by the prosecution during oral argument on McCauley’s case in April, the Superior Court opinion does not mention the disciplinary organization.
Judge McDaniel could not be reached for comment.
Amie Downs, the county’s spokeswoman, declined comment on behalf of the public defender’s office.
The most recent case to bring scorn from the Superior Court was an appeal of a second sentencing proceeding for McCauley, 45. He was convicted in 2014 of rape and years-long abuse of a girl.
Initially, Judge McDaniel sentenced McCauley to 20 to 40 years in prison. On appeal, McCauley’s defense attorney questioned whether that penalty was mandatory or discretionary.
The Superior Court sent the case back to Judge McDaniel in October 2016 and told her to clarify that question.
At resentencing in December 2016, she did not address that issue, the court found, and instead changed the penalty only slightly — to 20 years less two days to 40 years less four days.
Judge McDaniel did not allow McCauley to speak, did not review a new pre-sentence report for him, and did not provide any of the due process that is required for a criminal sentencing, the Superior Court concluded.
That prompted new appeals from the public defender’s office, which represented McCauley, and a request that Judge McDaniel recuse herself.
She refused.
In its opinion Wednesday, Superior Court wrote that it did not like Judge McDaniel’s behavior in the case.
“In particular, the trial court’s opinion is filled with gratuitous comments denigrating appellant’s counsel and the Public Defender’s office,” the panel wrote.
The three judges said they believe she made a “veiled threat” questioning the attorney’s and office’s credibility and implied that their continued appeal of her sentence could be “harmful to other criminal defendants who may actually have meritorious claims.”
The panel also criticized Judge McDaniel for sarcasm it said she used in her opinion.
“This sarcasm is disrespectful to appellant, counsel and the seriousness of the sentencing process,” they wrote.
Four times in the opinion, the panel said it was either “troubled” by Judge McDaniel’s actions or found them “troubling.”
The court cited her failure to follow its instructions on remand, including on two sex offender cases in which she was ordered to resentence the defendants and gave them the same penalties she’d previously imposed.
“This has resulted in an extensive deployment of judicial resources to review, analyze, and rectify the court’s deficient sentencing hearings,” the panel wrote.
In both of those cases, Judge McDaniel sentenced the defendants to twice what guidelines recommended.
At both hearings, Judge McDaniel said from the bench that she conducted a statistical analysis of her cases from 2012 to 2016, claiming that her sentences for sex offenders were comparable to those of other judges.
In its opinion Wednesday, the Superior Court noted that Judge McDaniel did not include any of her analyses in the certified record, making it impossible for the panel to consider her conclusions.
Still, it continued, “a statistical analysis would not compel a different result.”
President Judge Jeffrey A. Manning said late Wednesday that he had not seen the opinion and could not comment on it.
“Judge McDaniel is an extremely bright and dedicated judge who has for many years protected the rights of the accused and at the same time guarded the rights of the victims and witnesses in very serious, often vicious, sex offender cases which can spark significant disagreement between counsel and the court,” Judge Manning said.
“I will review the opinion and abide by the lawful orders of the appellate court.”
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Enough is Enough! Donna Rice Hughes needs to stop exploiting Predator Panic to push a personal agenda
Donna Rice Hughes's big claim to fame was getting caught in a sex scandal with Presidential candidate Gary Hart back in the 1980s, so I'm not surprised to see such an idiotic statement to promote internet censorship, something she's done since the mid-1990s.
https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/28/18116576/starbucks-public-wi-fi-porn-block
Starbucks says it’ll block porn on its public Wi-Fi next year
Following in the footsteps of McDonald’s
By Shannon Liao@Shannon_Liao Nov 28, 2018, 3:28pm EST
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Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
For years, Starbucks has caught flak for not preventing its customers from watching porn on its in-store Wi-Fi. Now the coffee retailer says that next year it will introduce a filter that prevents customers from viewing porn and other explicit material in stores, as first reported by Business Insider.
Starbucks said to The Verge, “While it rarely occurs, the use of Starbucks public Wi-Fi to view illegal or egregious content is not, nor has it ever been permitted...We have identified a solution to prevent this content from being viewed within our stores and we will begin introducing it to our US locations in 2019.” While there aren’t details on what the content filter is, Starbucks did say it had tested multiple methods.
As spotted by BI, an internet safety organization called Enough Is Enough has been pressuring Starbucks and other franchises with in-store internet access to put up content filters for years. Back in 2016, McDonald’s, which was one of the franchises being pressured, began to block porn on its public Wi-Fi networks. This put the onus on Starbucks to do the same. At the time, Starbucks said it would implement filters if it found a content blocker that wouldn’t block unintended sites as well. It had yet to find one.
This week, Enough Is Enough CEO Donna Rice Hughes said Starbucks had failed to protect its customers and follow through with its plan to block explicit content. “By breaking its commitment, Starbucks is keeping the doors wide open for convicted sex offenders and others to fly under the radar from law enforcement and use free, public Wi-Fi services to access illegal child porn and hard-core pornography,” she said.
A petition from Enough Is Enough said that public Wi-Fi networks “are attracting pedophiles and sex offenders” and put children at risk.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Republican Senator Tom Cotton the Rotten uses Predator Panic to attack the First Step Act
Someone just had to be the idiot to exploit Predator Panic to derail the First Steps Act.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/26/tom-cotton-criminal-justice-reform-senate-republicans-trump-1015149
Cotton wields sex offender report to tank prisons bill
The senator is seizing on a new DOJ analysis in his fight against fellow Republicans.
By BURGESS EVERETT and ELANA SCHOR 11/26/2018 01:26 PM EST Updated 11/26/2018 09:19 PM EST
GOP Sen. Tom Cotton is locked in an awkward fight with fellow Republicans over their push to change federal prison sentencing guidelines. And now he has a new attack line intended to make his rivals squirm: warnings that sex offenders could get off easy.
A new Justice Department analysis — conducted at Cotton's request — found that the Senate’s bipartisan sentencing and prison reform bill could make people convicted of some sex crimes eligible for early release. And though President Donald Trump supports the bill, Cotton says the DOJ confirmation underpins his argument that convicts of certain sex-related crimes could accrue credits making them eligible for supervised release or “pre-release” to a halfway house.
While GOP leaders are beginning to assess the prospects of the bill on the Senate floor, the Arkansas Republican argues that the latest version of the bill has been rushed and contains significant flaws, and he hopes to sway undecided Republicans to join him.
Cotton and Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) have been battling over the specifics of the bill since it was released in mid-November, exactly the type of intraparty firefight Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been hoping to avoid.
The argument over the bill's treatment of sex offenders took center stage on Monday, prompting the latest public shots between the warring Republican senators.
“Now that the Department of Justice has confirmed that the Senate FIRST STEP Act offers early release to multiple categories of sex offenders in several provisions of the bill, Congress should fix these problems instead of ramming this bill through. There is no such thing as a ‘low-risk violent sex offender’ who deserves earlier release than under current law," Cotton wrote in an emailed statement.
Conn Carroll, a spokesman for Lee, defended the legislation in response to the DOJ analysis on Monday and accused the bill’s opponents of “spreading fake news” about the bill.
“Just because a federal offense is not on the specific list of ineligible offenses doesn’t mean inmates who committed [a] non-specified offense will earn early release," Carroll wrote in an email. "All inmates must first pass a DOJ risk assessment before they can even begin earning good time credits. And then they must secure certification from their warden that they are not a threat to safety before they can be released.”
Carroll added that Lee is open to revising the bill if it turns opponents into supporters: “If adding to the list of specifically forbidden offenses would get some senators to yes, we would love to help them do that on the Senate floor.”
Their colleagues are watching closely.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said a Cotton op-ed panning the bill made a "compelling argument" and indicated his vote is in play. A number of Trump's Senate allies, including Grassley, Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), are behind the bill, but in the Senate even a small band of opposed senators can make a floor debate stretch out for a week — all while lobbing attacks at fellow Republicans for being soft on crime.
"I'd like to get it through, but we still have a few problems that we ought to work out," said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). "I'm for doing it if we can. We have a shot at it, but we're going to have to have a lot of cooperation."
Senior Senate Republicans said Monday they could not predict what McConnell would do.
“The leader wants a bill that doesn’t divide or fracture the conference,” said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 3 GOP leader. “He believes from a timing standpoint it’s better next year in light of all we have to finish up.”
The president has lobbied McConnell to bring up the bill, but the GOP leader has told Trump the Senate's schedule is crowded over the next month. McConnell has emphasized that funding the federal government by the Dec. 7 deadline and finishing a farm bill are his top priorities. And the House would probably have to vote on whatever the Senate passes on criminal justice reform, and ousted House Republicans might want to head home as soon as the funding bill is finished.
Known as the First Step Act, the criminal justice legislation is a key priority for dozens of Republican and Democratic senators in the lame-duck session, including some who have fought for years to get floor time for criminal justice reform. McConnell's chief deputy, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, said the GOP must ascertain whether the bill can come to the floor quickly before committing to considering the legislation.
"We're going to start whipping that," Cornyn said. "Part of the discussion is whether there's going to be an amendment process. That takes time. ... That's really the question: Can we build consensus or come up with an agreement that would allow us to do it on a limited time basis? I don't know the answer yet, but we're going to find out."
Right now, there's little guarantee of cooperation with Cotton calling for Republicans to go back to the drawing board over the bill's treatment of sex crimes.
In a copy of the DOJ correspondence obtained by POLITICO, Cotton’s office asked whether the bill would extend eligibility for credits to individuals convicted of four crimes: failure to register as a sex offender, importing aliens for prostitution, female genital mutilation and first-time assault with intent to commit rape or sexual abuse. The bill currently excludes those convicted of assault with intent to commit rape or sexual abuse from earning the time credits, but only if they’ve served a year or more in prison for a previous conviction.
A DOJ analyst responded that the measure contains no exclusions for people convicted of those crimes and that “all offenders would be eligible to receive more good time credits as a result of the bill.” DOJ referred a request for comment to the White House, which declined to respond to the DOJ analysis.
A spokesman for Grassley, who's shepherded criminal justice talks as Judiciary Committee chairman, drew a bright line between the bill's treatment of "good time" credits and "earned time" credits.
The four sex-related crimes on which Cotton sought information are already eligible for the former category of credits under current law, which the new criminal justice bill would expand to a minor degree in order to fix "a flawed interpretation of existing law," Grassley spokesman Taylor Foy said.
When it comes to the second category of credits, the current version of the billempowers the Bureau of Prisons to determine which prisoners at a “minimum or low risk” of recidivism would be eligible if they complete training programs aimed at reducing the risk of further offenses.
The bill's long list of offenses for which extra credits cannot be earned bars certain types of prisoners "regardless of their risk assessment," Foy added. Nonetheless, the exclusion of Cotton's four categories of offenses could hand ammunition to him and other hard-liners who want to see the bill’s sponsors start over again next year.
Supporters of the current push argue that delay would kill the effort outright, given the fragile bipartisan compromise struck during the lame duck. The new House Democratic majority, they note, could insist on more expansive reforms than just the bill's limited sentencing components.
Trump himself is continuing his campaign for the bill. He held an event on it during his Monday trip to Mississippi to campaign for Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).
It’s also possible that new categories of offenses could be added to the bill’s exemptions list as an amendment during Senate floor debate. Such tweaks are a relatively common occurrence on sensitive legislation, but opponents of the bill are likely to use any changes to the bill as a reason to stall it on the floor.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Floridiot State Senator Lauren "The Bimbo" Book creates a false flag story for cheap publicity
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The Florida Politics blog is deeply in bed with FloriDUH Senator Lauren Book. They are the only media outlet to publish this obvious attempt to claim victimhood by the premier professional victim of South Florida.
Bimbo Book claims the FBI showed up at her door and that she was a potential target. By now, these bombs have all been found. Obviously, if this idiot had been a target of the #MAGAbomber, then how is it no bomb ever showed up? After all, the bombs were sent from her own town. Cesar Sayoc was arrested in Plantation. Lauren Book's claims are nothing more than an attempt to attract sympathy, something this professional victim does for a living. This claim is a false flag.
Be greateful, my fellow Floridians-- you dodged a worse bomb in having this Democrat version of Sarah Palin miss out on being Andrew Gillim's running mate. We can all breathe a sign of relief knowing that the state could've been controlled by this complete fucktard.
It must really irk her knowing that most people outside of those in the Florida Legislature, her dad, his cronies, her cronies, and the Florida Politics blog couldn't give two shits about her. She simply wants to feel important, and her cronies at the Florida Politics blog are quick to play the enabler role.
Lauren Book among potential targets for accused mail bomber
JACOB OGLES
23 hours ago
A man accused of sending pipe bombs to liberal leaders across the country also scoured the internet for information on Democratic state Sen. Lauren Book of South Florida.
FBI agents came to Book’s home to inform her of concerns that a pipe bomb may yet be sent to her, the Plantation Democrat said.
“When I went into this, I knew politics could be messy,” Book said, “but not somebody sending you a pipe bomb filled with glass to blow you and your kids up.”
Book wasn’t home when agents arrived. She was at the airport about to fly to Tallahassee for a United Way Women’s Leadership Breakfast to hear CNN host and author Lisa Ling speak.
But husband Blair Byrnes and her two infants were at home. As she sat at an airport ready to board a plane, Book listened to FBI agents brief her from her living room while her children napped upstairs.
The agents told Book that Cesar Sayoc, the man investigators believe sent explosive materials to more than a dozen left-leaning public figures in American politics, had also done research on Book’s record of public service.
FBI Director Christopher Wray announced Oct. 26 that agents arrested Sayoc in connection to pipe bombs sent to billionaire George Soros, former President Barack Obama and individuals at CNN, among others.
But authorities told NBC News that Sayoc kept a list of more than 100 possible targets, and potential victims would be notified individually.
Authorities arrested Sayoc in Plantation, in the heart of Book’s own district, though they now say he lived in Aventura. His mother Madeline Giardello is president of an area condo association.
In searching Sayoc’s personal computer, the FBI told Book, investigators found significant research into Book’s career, including votes on various pieces of legislation in Tallahassee.
“It’s hard to believe because I had only been there two years,” Book says.
Indeed, when news of a threat to political figures first broke days earlier, police set up in Book’s office, but her husband joked no one targeting major political figures and national news personalities would care about a state senator.
He was wrong.
At the time, it did raise concerns for Book when one of the bomber’s packages was returned to the Sunrise office of U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Book previously used that same space for a temporary district office, which filled her thoughts as she watched news footage of authorities sweeping the office.
But while that seemed eerie, news Book actually could be the target of a local terrorist proved shocking.
FBI officials told Book she needed to take alternate routes when she drove to work, and call authorities in the event any unfamiliar packages showed up on her doorstep, even though the suspect was already in custody.
To date, it’s only been anticipated packages from Amazon and other retailers that showed up on Book’s doorstep, she jokes, but as she tries to keep the topic light, she says it’s only because of the terrifying truth of the threat to her life.
But when Book got involved fighting sex trafficking, she knew which groups would be angry and upset, she says. She could anticipate trouble from a known realm of unsavory and identified individuals.
In this case, she seems to have been targeted by a right-wing lunatic for no other reason than being a Democrat.
“This won’t stop you from doing your work,” she says, “but it does make me more aware, and it makes me want to be more protective of myself and my kids.”
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Butts Co GA Sheriff Gary Long is misinterpreting notification laws to place harassment signs in registrant yards
While O.C.G.A. 42-1-12-i(5) covers some form of notification, I am sure that this was not the intent of notification. This filthy pig simply wants attention as well as cause harm to registered persons and their loved ones. If you have Facebook, educate this fool.
https://fox11online.com/news/nation-world/georgia-sheriffs-office-places-no-trick-or-treat-signs-in-sex-offenders-yards
Georgia sheriff's office places 'No Trick-or-Treat' signs in sex offenders' yards
by Chris White
A Georgia sheriff's office is placing signs that read, "WARNING! NO TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THIS ADDRESS!!" in registered sex offenders' yards. (Courtesy: Butts County Sheriff's Office)
JACKSON, Georgia (WSYX/WTTE) —
A Georgia sheriff's office is placing "No Trick-or-Treat" signs in sex offenders' yards in an effort to keep children safe.
"As Sheriff, there is nothing more important to me than the safety of your children," said Butts County Sheriff Gary Long. "This Halloween, my office has placed signs in front of every registered sex offender's house to notify the public that it's a house to avoid."
Long said Georgia law forbids registered sex offenders from participating in Halloween. That includes decorating their property or handing out candy.
The sheriff told residents to keep an eye out for signs marking the sex offenders' houses.
The sign reads, "WARNING! NO TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THIS ADDRESS!!'
Long says the signs were placed in accordance with Georgia Law O.C.G.A. 42-1-12-i(5), which states the sheriff shall inform the public of the presence of sexual offenders in each community.
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/georgia-sheriffs-office-placing-no-trick-or-treat-signs-in-yards-of-registered-sex-offenders/275-609453487
Georgia sheriff's office placing 'No Trick Or Treat' signs in yards of registered sex offenders
Georgia state law prohibits registered sex offenders from placing Halloween decorations on their property.
Author: Michael King, Nick Sturdivant
Published: 2:21 PM EDT October 29, 2018
Updated: 3:59 AM EDT October 30, 2018
JACKSON, Ga. -- Thousands of kids will hit the streets for trick or treat in just days.
In Butts County, Sheriff Gary Long said deputies in his county are putting preventative measures in place to keep kids safe. They have started placing 'No Trick Or Treat' yard signs in front of registered sex offenders homes in their county.
"This Halloween, my office has placed signs in front of every registered sex offender's house to notify the public that it's a house to avoid," Long said in a Facebook post.
Georgia state law prohibits registered sex offenders from placing Halloween decorations on their property. The signs have the universal "no" symbol over a trick or treat bag underneath the message "NO TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THIS ADDRESS!!"
"Georgia law is very, very clear," he said. "It doesn’t say that the sheriff can or the sheriff may. It says the sheriff shall and it says that the sheriff shall in fact notify each community of the presence of sex offenders."
The idea to put yard signs in front of registered sex offenders homes came after organizers decided not to have an annual trick-or-treating event.
"The big challenge that we face here in Butts County, for years and years and years and years they’ve always done Halloween on the square and on Halloween night we would have anywhere from 2,500 to 4,000 children," he said.
With no central place to go, the sheriff said he knows more kids will be going door-to-door to trick-or-treat. Instead of putting signs on offenders doors like the sheriff's office has done in years past, Sheriff Long said he decided to place them in the yard where everyone can see them.
"The activity in our neighborhoods is really going to increase," he said. "We actually launched the signs out Saturday."
There are more than 50 sex offenders in Butts County, according to Sheriff Long. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations' website shows close to 31,500 registered sex offenders in the state.
In Gwinnett County authorities will be doing compliance checks. They also plan to post their offenders watch page as well. A few years ago, The Bartow County Sheriff's Office did a similar initiative, posting "No trick-or-treat" signs on the homes and apartments of sex offenders.
‘There are some sex offenders that are not happy, "Long said. "But I’m not in the business of making them happy. I’m in the business of keeping safe communities and making sure that our children are protected."
Each county has an offender watch page on its website and a link to the statewide sex offender registry.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Misguided New York advocate Michael Carey also trying to oust registrants from homes for the disabled
Just look at his press release. He uses a case to try to prove his point:
https://bbg.einnews.com/pr_news/465034409/gov-andrew-cuomo-is-secretly-moving-convicted-sex-offenders-from-prisons-into-group-homes
Here is what a convicted sexual predator and pedophile said of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s system, it is “a predators dream.”
"The lack of supervision there made it easy to do what I did," DeProspero said in a handwritten affidavit obtained by The Associated Press. "I could have stayed in that house for years and abused him every day without anybody even noticing at all. It was a predator's dream."
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/new-york-pay-3m-family-boy-molested-group-home-article-1.2977392
There's just one problem-- the person he is using as an example WAS NOT A RESIDENT of the nursing home-- he was a a staff worker who passed a background because, like most in NY state arrested for a sex offense, had no prior sex offense record.
https://www.whec.com/news/advocate-fights-to-remove-sex-offenders-from-group-homes-for-the-disabled/5086313/#.W9CyFjqsDXE
Advocate fights to remove sex offenders from group homes for the disabled
September 26, 2018 11:11 PM
There are more than two dozen sex offenders living side-by-side with our most vulnerable in Monroe County, according to the Jonathan Carey Foundation.
The foundation was started in 2007 in memory of Jonathan Carey, a 13-year-old with autism who died in a group home after being suffocated by staff who improperly restrained him.
"I've been doing this for 11 and a half years and it's absolutely wearisome because I'm fighting a system that does not want to change," said Michael Carey, Jonathan's father.
According to the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), privacy laws prohibit agencies from letting families know if, or when this happens, leaving many in the dark when special needs loved ones are living under the same roof with sexual predators.
Carey also claims incidents that do occur aren't reported and aren't prosecuted. Instead, Carey says many incidents are dealt with internally and kept quiet.
"They discriminate against the disabled and deny them equal access to 911 medical and police services," said Carey.
Federal law requires state & federal Medicaid-funded facilities to be free of abuse and neglect, human rights violations and sexual exploitation.
That is hard to guarantee when the most vulnerable are roommates with sex offenders.
According to the Disabled Rights Protection Commission, only three percent of sexual abuse cases get reported.
The DRPC also estimates about 90 percent of people with developmental disabilities will experience sexual abuse at some point in their lives.
"Right now around 8,000 calls a month go into the state abuse hotline a month," said Carey.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, R-NY, is calling on the New York State Attorney General’s Office to investigate saying, “Placing convicted sex offenders in the same state-run homes as the developmentally disabled is a new low, even for Governor Cuomo.”
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Sharon Ashe of Kingsbury NY already forced one registrant out of a home for the disabled and is now pushing to make this statewide
https://wnyt.com/news/plans-to-move-sex-offender-into-group-home-delayed/5056470/?cat=10114
Plans to move sex offender into group home delayed
September 03, 2018 06:37 PM
GANSEVOORT - Plans to move a two time convicted sex offender into a group home in Gansevoort have been delayed.
James Becker, 33, won't be moving in on Tuesday, but the concerned mother who reached out to NewsChannel 13 last week said the fight isn't over yet.
"It's got to stop,” Sharon Ashe said. “It has got to stop now, we cannot keep turning our backs on this."
Late Sunday night Ashe learned Becker won't be moving into a group home for people with developmental disabilities on Route 50.
Ashe's 47-year-old son Scott lives in that home. She said Scott functions at about an 8-year-old level. He lives in the home with three other 40 to 50-year-old men who have also been diagnosed with a developmental disability.
Ashe said the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, the state agency that runs the facility, delayed the move over the weekend.
Ashe said it's a step in the right direction, but it's not a solution.
"A postponement is not the answer,” she said. “There are other homes within New York State under OMRDD [OPWDD] they're called Forensic homes. They are filled with other sex offenders. That is where this man belongs."
Becker spent three years in jail after he pleaded guilty to having sex with two underage girls.
Since Ashe spoke out last week, a number of people have stepped in to try and stop the move.
Activist Michael Carey wrote an email to the Justice Center, which read in part:
"This act is illegal and in direct violation of NYS Penal Law 260.25, Endangering the welfare of incompetent and physically disabled people."
New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner said she's concerned by the lack of official notice the group home gave resident's families.
In addition to formal notification, Woerner believes there should be meetings scheduled to ensure transparency.
"I would like to see OPWDD have a process so it's not just sending them a letter sending, the parents a letter but sitting down with the parents and talking through what their staffing plan is and what their concerns might be,” Woerner said.
In a statement the Department of Corrections and Community Services said Becker “would be under close supervision in Saratoga County.”
OPWDD released a statement about their placement process last week, it said in part,
"OPWDD provides supports for people with developmental disabilities in the most appropriate environment based upon their needs, we do not deny needed services based on incidents that occurred in an individual's past."
Woerner said the situation presents significant challenges for everyone involved.
“I understand that this is a difficult situation but we need to balance the rights of the residence of the group home with the rights of the individual being released from prison and find a solution that doesn't put anybody in danger,” she said.
In the meantime, Ashe said she'll continue to fight.
"I have to keep going on this until we know that this is permanently gone around New York State,” Ashe said.
A representative from OPWDD said privacy laws protect Becker's information in this case. The representative said OPWDD only works with people who have a documented developmental disability.
Stay tuned to NewsChannel 13 for updates on this developing story.
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Providence RI's Luis Aponte wants to make his city the Miami of the North. Guess what else he has in common with MIami?
I guess Providence RI wants to be the Miami FL of the north. I guess Luis Aponte wants RI'ers to forget about the fact he is facing prison time himself. Interestingly, Ron Book, the guy responsible for the mess in Miami was also convicted of crimes related to campaign contributions, just like Aponte is facing now. Obviously Aponte's pending conviction is the reason for this Hail Mary tactic.
https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/providence/councilman-aponte-seeks-to-ban-sex-offenders-from-child-safety-zones/1534342549
Councilman Aponte seeks to ban sex offenders from ‘child safety zones'
By: Dan McGowan
Posted: Oct 18, 2018 08:00 PM EDT
Updated: Oct 18, 2018 08:00 PM EDT
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – As Washington Park residents continue their efforts to drive a convicted child rapist out of their neighborhood, their councilman has put forward a proposal that would ban registered sex offenders from residing near schools or other facilities frequently visited by kids.
Councilman Luis Aponte, a Democrat from Ward 10, introduced an ordinance Thursday that would prohibit registered sex offenders from living within a 500-foot radius of a “child safety zones,” which would include schools, daycares or recreational areas.
The ordinance would also ban the ex-cons from “entering upon or loitering” within 500 feet of the same facilities. Violators would be subject to fines of $250 on the first offense, $350 on the second offense and $500 for all subsequent violations.
“This is an immediate reaction given some of the things I heard last night,” Aponte told Eyewitness News, referring to a contentious neighborhood meeting attended by more than 200 residents Wednesday after they learned a man convicted of sexually assaulting children in Warwick and Massachusetts in the late 1980s was released from prison and moved to Washington Park last week.
Aponte said he modeled his proposal after other ordinances approved in communities across the country, including Lincoln.
“This is not a foreign concept,” Aponte said. The ordinance was co-sponsored by 11 of Aponte’s Democratic colleagues and referred to the Ordinance Committee. (Three councilors were absent.)
Residents were outraged this week to learn ex-con Richard Gardner moved to a home in Washington Park. After Wednesday’s community meeting, they rallied outside his residence. The neighbors planned to continue protesting Gardner Thursday night.
Gardner’s situation is unique because his offenses pre-date Megan's Law, a measure that led to the federal government requiring that all states establish sex offender registries, meaning there's no requirement to inform the community about where he lives. Mayor Jorge Elorza has promised to keep a police detail on Gardner to ensure he doesn’t re-offend.
There are currently more than 500 registered sex offenders living in Providence, according to police.
Aponte acknowledged his proposal would not apply to Gardner because he already lives in Washington Park, but he said he’s hopeful it will address future situations. He said the area around Gardner’s residence has several small home daycares where individuals take care of children, so he wants to ensure no sex offenders can live in the area going forward.
A spokesperson for Elorza said the administration intends to review the proposal before commenting.
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