A dozen Sand Springs sex offenders could be forced to move out

11-23-2010 Oklahoma:

SAND SPRINGS, Okla. - The city of Sand Springs is taking steps to move nearly two dozen sex offenders who live just down the street from a neighborhood.

City officials say parents are worried that so many sex offenders live near their children, so the city created a city park that draws new boundaries.

"I'm concerned for the childrens' safety," said resident Wilma Stanfill.

Stanfill has lived in Country Meadow Estates in Sand Springs for 25 years. She had no idea that 23 registered sex offenders lived so close.

The very person complaining provides testimony that, for 25 years there has not been a single incident, if there were I'm sure she would have mentioned it. Hopefully the former offenders will get a lawyer and take the city to court, using her testimony as evidence.

"I'd like to see it be safe, and I'd like to see the park be there, and maybe those other people can move away," she said.

Assistant Chief of Police Mike Carter says the owner who built the RV park in Tulsa County is building another one on city land. Residents are concerned more offenders will move in.

"When you're looking at close to 40 sex offenders living in one area, that wasn't looked at as the best interest of our citizens," Carter said.

So the city created a park within Country Meadows. Under Oklahoma law, sex offenders cannot live within 2,000 feet of a city or county park. Both RV parks fall within that boundary.

"People will make the case, well now you know where they are. Our citizens didn't sign up for that," Carter said.

Troy Norris owns both of the RV parks. He says he allowed sex offenders to live at his Tulsa County location at the request of Operation Hope Ministries.

Norris says the site in Sand Springs city limits would be different.

"I never intended to allow offenders in this park. I think the city kind of assumed that was going to be the case," he said.

"Then we really don't have a conflict," said Carter, after hearing this. "In that respect, if that's not what his intentions are, then I'm glad we could help him out. Because I think we're going to be protecting the new occupants of his new RV park."

Norris says city officials never contacted him with their concerns.

"It doesn't really bother me from a business stand point, personally it seems that it's a little underhanded," he said.

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office wasn't aware that Sand Springs had created this park. They are consulting with the DA's office and if the sex offenders have to move, they will be contacted. ..Source.. Sara Goldenberg