TX- Evacuees unknowingly shared east TX shelter with sex offenders

And these same people live in the community and possibly even next door, and nothing happened in either place. Sounds like we have "The State Promoting Hysteria" and for what reason?

9-18-2008 Texas:

MARSHALL, TX (KSLA) - Some evacuees who sought safety in the ArkLaTex from Hurricane Ike ended up bunking down in a danger zone of a different kind.

Marshall Police told KSLA News 12 at least three sex offenders mingled among the general population in the civic center shelter for as long as 24 hours.

According to Det. Sonya Johnson, a spokeswoman for the department, this occurred during a power outage that swept across much of the city. She said because of the lack of electricity, staffers at the shelter could not perform the usual check-in process.

"When the buses came in, these subjects were here in the general population," Johnson said. "Once the power came on and the resources were made available, then, yes, we were able to separate them."

Johnson said the city of Marshall does not have the resources available that many larger metropolitan areas have, such as a separate facility exclusively for housing sex offenders.

However, she said once it was brought to the police department's attention, arrangements were made to move them. Two of them were taken to an undisclosed location which Johnson said is several miles from the civic center. A third person who could not be moved because of medical reasons is now in a segregated area within the building, she said.

People who unknowingly shared the shelter with the convicted criminals told KSLA News 12 were angry to learn the news.

-And, no one checked to see if there were any murderers, robbers, or other violent felons.

"We were left without lights for 24 hours," said Shekenia Jenning, a resident of Orange, TX and mother to three pre-teens. "How do we know what they were doing with our kids during those hours?"

When Jonathan Duhon found out what had happened, he held his toddler tightly, vowing not to let her out of his sight again.

"You see I have a beautiful little girl and I'd like to know if there's a sex offender here or not," he said.

While the news may be startling, Det. Johnson said the truth is the offenders could have remained in the shelter even longer without notifying anyone. Apparently under Texas law, a sex offender who evacuates has seven days in which to register his or her whereabouts with authorities. In Louisiana, the time limit is 24 hours.

-Now, while some lawmaker will want a law to change the time period, I'll bet they fail to think far enough into the issue to recognize, the offenders cannot leave to go register in an emergency.

Still, Johnson said there has never been any reason for shelter residents to worry. She said police officers and National Guardsmen have been keeping close tabs on everyone in the facility.

-Then, why move the sex offenders at all?

..News Source.. by Katrina Webber