TX- Female Sex Offenders Increasing

11-6-2009 Texas:

More Victims Reporting Women To Police

SAN ANTONIO -- They could be anyone you know -- sisters, aunts, cousins and teachers. But their sexual crimes are far from harmless and now the number of female sex offenders in Bexar County is growing.

"There is a sense to downplay a bit, not seeing it as being serious," said Cynthia Gentry, an associate professor who specializes in criminology. at Trinity University

According to Gentry, when it comes to young victims of a female predator, society is shocked and outraged, but when it's a teenager being sexually abused, society tends to look the other way.

"In their particular circle, in this culture, it might be considered a plus," Gentry said.

Sex abuse cases by women are rarely reported and when they are, cases like Mary Letourneau, an elementary school teacher caught having sex with a twelve year old boy, the attention is almost celebrity status.

But according to Dr. Gentry, a victim is a victim.

On the state's registered sex offender Web site, you would think all predators are men, but there are also plenty of female sex offenders on the list and according to authorities, that number is on the rise.

Based on numbers provided by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, there are 4,700 registered female sex offenders in the county and according to authorities, the number has doubled, maybe even tripled what it was just a few years ago.

"That's the reaction I get, 'Never knew they had female offenders,'" said Deputy Armando Diaz of the Bexar County Sheriff's Sex Offender Registration Unit.

Diaz has been with the sheriff's sex offender office for nearly 10 years.

Diaz has noticed a jump in the number of registered female sex offenders in Bexar County from a few names on the list to a couple of pages full of women who are registered sex offenders.

Earlier in the month, 67 sex offenders were rounded up by various law enforcement agencies. Among those picked up was Irene Tejerina, a sex offender who failed to properly registered with the state.

Diaz believes tips have everything to do with the rise in the number of cases.

"Families are contacting the authorities to report the abuse, not the youngsters," Diaz said.

Gentry said victims of a sex crime are just that. A victim and female predators, most times, are very troubled.

"People tell me, 'Females do it.' I didn't think so, but now I know," said Mary, a young woman who was sexually attacked by a female.

"I was paralyzed down, paralyzed from my legs. It changed everything, it changed my life," Mary said.

Mary is still undergoing therapy and continues to use a cane to help her walk, but she hopes more victims will come forward to report the sexual abuse.

"It's a serious crime and that needs serious attention," she said. ..Source.. by Rosenda Rios, KSAT 12 News Reporter