Community angered after sex offender receives award

11-13-2010 Michigan:

ALBION, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – The Albion Chamber of Commerce has aroused some anger in the community by giving an award to a sex offender.

His name is Ken Fourn and his neighbors found him on the sex offender registry. He spent time in jail after being convicted of second degree criminal sexual conduct.

Despite that, the Albion Chamber of Commerce honored him with the Good Neighbor award for his good deeds in the community.

Now people in that community are hot and taking shots at Fourn on Facebook.

Hundreds of angry Facebook posting have erupted after Fourn was awarded the Good Neighbor certificate.

Newschannel 3 spoke with Fourn on Friday about the controversy he's suddenly found himself in.

“If I had any inkling that it would disturb people that I received an award for helping out with the community band I never would have accepted it,” said Fourn.

The Albion Chamber of Commerce says Ken Fourn received the Good Neighbor award because “Ken and his wife Jan are responsible for more than 30 years of continued success with the Albion Community Band.”

However, people in Albion are furious because Fourn is a convicted sex offender. He was convicted in 1999 of second degree criminal sexual conduct with a child.

Fourn says the starting point for his award and his CSC charge are the same thing, music.

“I taught at the Spring Arbor College, had some students there,” said Fourn. “I taught the Jackson Symphony School of Music.”

Fourn says he also gave private lessons.

“One of my students took offense to a maneuver that I use to teach breathing,” said Fourn.

Fourn says that student was a ten-year-old girl.

“In hindsight the young lady probably was offended by the way I touched her,” said Fourn. “I had no idea that it would cause such a firestorm.”

Fourn was arrested and charged with CSC, he says his attorney advised him to plead no contest to the charges and he served two months in jail.

The Albion Chamber of Commerce says they will not take back Fourn's award, but in the future will do more research before handing out awards. ..Source.. WWMT.com