MI- Police combat sex offenders

11-14-2008 Michigan:

OWOSSO - Sergeant Tom Holcomb knows he has a difficult task in the city.

As the city's head of sex offender investigations, Holcomb is responsible for keeping track of the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry's estimated 86 sex offenders in Owosso.

With a population topping 15,000, the estimated ratio is one in every 180 people is a sex offender. The ratio is higher than Flint (one in 212), Lansing (one in 244) and much higher than Shiawassee County (one in 369).

“As far as being the highest in the county, you have to look at population,” Holcomb said. “The biggest city we have is Owosso.”

Compared with the cities of Corunna (one in 134), Durand (one in 292) and Perry (one in 117), Owosso is lower than only Durand. The highest ratio of all major cities in Michigan is Detroit (one in 79).

Public Safety Director Mike Compeau said enforcement should be considered.

“Holcomb is one of the best in the state at his job,” he said, adding the Owosso Police Department also is one of the best departments in the state to combat sexual offenders.

Holcomb said there are other factors to take into account.


“One bit of food for thought, there may be some who are registered who have moved from one jurisdiction into another and haven't registered,” he said. “The numbers on the Web site also don't indicate how many unlisted adjudicated juveniles there are.”

Holcomb said there were less than four adjudicated juveniles in Owosso.

“One misunderstanding most people have is they think that most of these are teens who violated the age of consent,” he said. “Locally and nationally speaking, those only account for 4 or 5 percent.”

That isn't the only myth concerning sexual offenders, Holcomb said.

“Someone does not necessarily become a sex offender if they're convicted of indecent exposure,” he said. “Unless it's a third conviction. So it takes a lot more than just some kid getting caught for streaking.”

Holcomb said there are several ways a person becomes a registered sex offender, including any criminal sexual conduct offense; computer crimes, such as soliciting minors or posting pornographic material; and convictions for being sexually delinquent.

“A CSC is the most common out of all of them,” he said. “The others are pretty rare.”

Another myth Holcomb mentioned is those ending up on the sex offender registry stay there for life.

“For many of the lesser offenses, it's 25 years,” he said. “For the more serious crimes or multiple convictions, it's life. Also, juveniles can petition the court to be removed before 18.” ..News Source.. by NATHAN BRUTTELL Argus-Press Staff Writer