10-6-2011 New Mexico:
Sex offender laws not tough enough
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New Mexico’s sex offender registration laws are tough but according to the federal government they are not tough enough. Because of this, New Mexico stands to lose lots of money.
New Mexico is currently about 85 percent compliant with the Adam Walsh Act, a federal law passed in 2006 that strengthened sex offender registration laws nationwide.
The July deadline to show further compliance passed and now the state is not meeting the mark.
“We have complied with everything that we can do administratively,” said Regina Chacon, records bureau chief for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. “New Mexico needs to add new crimes to the sex offender registration and notification act.”
A series of bills presented to state lawmakers over the last five years, would each have made changes to state law to satisfy federal requirements, but none of the bills made it into law.
New Mexico could lose around $270,000 in federal funding if the state fails to meet federal standards. And those funds could help law enforcement agencies statewide for things like DWI and narcotics operations, and for life-saving equipment like bullet-proof vests.
News 13 has learned the issue is lost in the world of state politics.
“The people outside of this capitol, our residents in this state, they’re the losers in this,” said State Representative Yvette Herrell.
Herrell was one of the last legislators who sponsored the legislation that eventually failed. Her bill never made it out of committee.
“It would have brought us into compliance 100 percent with the Adam Walsh Act,” Herrell said.
Herrell’s bill would have required New Mexico residents who committed sex crimes outside of the United States to register in the state.
It would also expand the number of crimes defined as sex offenses and it would increase the amount of information sex offenders have to provide to their counties.
“It doesn’t make sense that a bill that is basically non-partisan and would be a good bill for our public would not pass through this chamber and the other chamber and not go all the way through,” Herrell said.
Herrell’s bill was not the only bill to fail recently. Representative Antonio Maestas also sponsored legislation during the last regular session.
His bill passed both chambers of the legislature, but Governor Susana Martinez vetoed the bill because she felt it did not do enough to comply with the Adam Walsh Act.
In fact, a governor’s office spokesperson told News 13 in some ways the Maestas bill would have weakened the state’s sex offender registration laws.
Maestas insists his bill would have moved the state closer to compliance.
“There’s so much complexity and so many interest groups involved that it’s very difficult to get these bills passed,” Maestas said. “I believe it was vetoed for political reasons.”
According to Chacon, the Department of public safety will try once again to get the laws changed during the next legislative session in January.
The governor’s office is working with the state attorney general’s office on a bill, too.
“Lawmakers are aware that we will lose federal grant money,” Chacon said.
New Mexico is not the only state facing the loss of federal dollars. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, only 14 states are currently meeting federal requirements. ..Source.. by Tim Maestas
Thursday, October 6, 2011
NM works to toughen sex offender laws
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
A new obligation for sex offenders
10-4-2011 Michigan:
The closing of the State Police Detroit post means convicted sex offenders in Detroit who are required to register and verify their addresses now must do so at one of five Detroit police stations rather than with Michigan State Police.
The standard quarterly reporting periods for address verification are Jan. 1-15, April 1-15, July 1-15 and Oct. 1-15. People with questions can call 313-596-2200. ..Source.. by ELISHA ANDERSON
Status of Michigan State Police posts
These State Police posts will remain fully operational and open to the public 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday:
Alpena
Bay City
Brighton
Caro
Cadillac
Calumet
Coldwater
Flint
Gaylord
Gladstone
Hart
Houghton Lake
Iron Mountain
Jackson
Lakeview
Lansing
Lapeer
Metro (Oak Park)
Monroe
Mt. Pleasant
Negaunee
Niles
Paw Paw
Rockford
Sault Ste. Marie
St. Ignace
Wakefield
Wayland
West Branch
Beginning Oct. 16, 19 former posts will convert to detachments where troopers can start and end their shifts, store property and evidence and meet with the public by appointment. They are:
Cheboygan (Became a detachment Sunday)
East Tawas
Grand Haven
Groveland
Hastings
Ionia
Jonesville
Kalkaska
Manistique
Metro South
Newberry
Newaygo
Petoskey
Reed City
Sandusky
Traverse City
White Pigeon
Ypsilanti
The following posts will close permanently; closing dates vary. None will maintain public lobby hours after Oct. 14:
Adrian
Battle Creek
Bridgeport
*Bridgman
Corunna
Detroit
Gladwin
Iron River
Ithaca
L'Anse
Manistee
**Munising
Richmond
**Stephenson
* Will close its lobby Saturday.
** Lobby closed Sept. 18.
Goshen College student who lied about rape gets probation
10-4-2011 Indiana:
A former Goshen College student, who told her mom she'd been kidnapped and raped as an excuse for being late, received her sentence today.
Jessica De La Vega will have to spend a year and a half on probation and perform 200 hours of community service for her conviction of obstructing justice. A year-and-a-half of prison time was suspended.
De La Vega told police back in January she had been abducted and raped in a Goshen park, leading police to circulate a sketch of a suspect. ..Source.. by WSBT
Deputies: Man Seeking 'Companionship Sessions' Shot
10-4-2011 Florida:
Detectives Say Argument About Session With Triggerman's Wife Led To Shooting
STUART, Fla. -- A man who was visiting a Stuart couple in response to an Internet advertisement for "companionship sessions" was shot by the husband during an altercation, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies were called about a shooting at the mobile home on Northeast 15th Terrace early Monday morning.
According to the incident report, Daniel and Sarah Diodato told detectives they were advertising on the Internet for companionship sessions with Sarah. Kyle Hicks, a 33-year-old registered sex offender, replied to the ad and was invited inside their home.
Detectives said Daniel was in the back bedroom while Sarah and Hicks negotiated a price for the session in the living room. Detectives said an argument began when Daniel entered the room.
According to the report, Hicks didn't like the idea of Daniel being present during the session. Daniel told detectives that Hicks wanted his money back and began fighting with them, at one point choking Sarah.
Detectives said Daniel then retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun from underneath the couch in the living room and fired one shot, striking Hicks in the abdomen. Daniel then called 911.
Daniel wouldn't talk to WPBF 25 News' Meredith McDonough about what happened.
"I wasn't here," he said. "I'm sorry."
Hicks was listed in critical condition at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center.
Detectives continue to investigate, but no arrests have been made. ..Source.. by WPBF.com
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POLICE: Jensen Beach internet prostitute's customer shot by husband
JENSEN BEACH, Fla. -- A 33-year-old man who claimed to be a mixed martial arts fighter was incapacitated by a shotgun after a fight with an internet prostitute and her husband early Monday morning, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities say they were called to a mobile home on Northeast 15th Terrace at 1:12 a.m., alerted by a 9-1-1 made by the husband, Daniel Jason Diodato, 27, after the shooting.
Kyle Ryan Hicks, 33, of Stuart told police he came to the mobile home expecting sex, after finding Sarah Ruth Diodato, 21, on the "Backpage" website, where adult personals moved after Craigslist stopped allowing "adult services" postings. The suspect told police he was "shot for no reason."
Daniel Diodato told police his wife offered sex via online ads and that the john became upset after paying $120 and finding him there to provide security for his wife. Sarah Diodato said the suspect wanted sex and became angry when she had offered only "companionship," such as a half-hour massage, and that's when her husband intervened and a fight began.
Daniel Diodato told police he shot the suspect after he had beaten both Daniel and his wife, telling them he was an MMA fighter. He said he would have shot the suspect "center of mass" had he not been holding his wife at the time, and instead shot him in his left hip area.
Hicks left a lot of blood at the scene and was transported the Lawnwood Regional Medical Center. As of 6 p.m. Monday, Hicks is listed in fair condition.
Hicks was listed as a suspect on reports, while the Diodatos were listed as victims, though no arrests have been made. Martin County Sheriff's detectives continue to investigate. ..Source.. by WPEC - CBS12.com
Monday, October 3, 2011
NY Enacts New Sex Offender Law Which Increases Danger to Public
10-3-2011 New York:
On September 23, Gov. Cuomo announced a list of bills that he has approved. Among them was a bill that requires Level 2 registered sex offenders to report their employment addresses. (Level 3 offenders all already required to do so). This new law requires the employment addresses to be posted on the Internet registry. This law applies retroactively to all Level 2 registered sex offenders, including those who have lived and worked safely in the community for up to 15 years. (While most with criminal convictions find that the consequences of their convictions decrease over time, the consequences of a conviction for a sex offense often increase with the passage of time).
A recent study has found that such policies make communities less safe. Recidivism is more likely in the absence of stable employment and stable housing. This law will cause some former offenders to lose their jobs and make it much harder for others to find employment.
This new law is not based on any facts or research, quite the opposite. Illinois lawmakers recently pointed out that the main reason lawmakers vote for such laws is that they are afraid not to. There is too much political risk in appearing soft on sex offenders, even if legislation is counter productive. Sadly, elected officials would rather increase the risk to communities than increase the political risk to themselves. ..Source: Sex Offenders: A Reality Based Discussion blog..
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Sex Offender Village Update: Campione to host forum on sex-offender village
10-2-2011 Florida:
Community fears for kids, property values
SORRENTO — Talk of a possible "sex-offender" village sprouting in east Lake County is sparking protests and a community forum at an elementary school.
While no firm plans for a village have been announced, a group of Sorrento moms aims to ensure the concept never takes root. They have circulated petitions, launched a Facebook page in opposition and will pass out leaflets today at State Road 46 and Plymouth-Sorrento Road.
The moms rallied after Barbara Farris of Tampa leaked her plans to develop special neighborhoods in remote areas that would be populated exclusively by sex offenders and mentioned Sorrento as a possible location.
County Commissioner Leslie Campione, who urged fellow commissioners last week to enact ordinances that would push sex offenders farther away from parks and schools and prevent a cluster of sex offenders anywhere in Lake, said she decided to host a forum this week because of widespread concern over the idea.
The forum will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in the cafeteria of Sorrento Elementary School on Wallick Road.
'Far enough from civilization'
Farris said she wanted to cluster sex offenders together so they could be monitored more easily and contained in locations far away from school bus stops, parks, playgrounds and other places where kids congregate.
She drew the ire of Sorrento residents when she said the area was "far enough from civilization…" Campione, too, said she was opposed to the sex-offender village concept, which she labeled ridiculous and dangerous.
In an email to Campione, a pastor at a nearby church said he understood the need for housing for sex offenders, who cannot live closer than 1,000 feet from schools and parks and often are rejected by landlords.
"I know that it is possible for a registered sex-offender to purchase a home, and it could be next door to my own home," said Richard Burguet, pastor of New Hope Presbyterian Church. "But there is a huge difference between a village of residences and one single-family home interspersed into a healthy neighborhood."
Residents fear shattered dreams
Another called the proposal an "atrocity" and noted that petitions opposing Farris' concept of a sex-offender village in east Lake are "in every local crevice of Sorrento, from the stores to the Day Care."
Priscilla Bernardo-Drugge urged commissioners to fight the concept.
"Over the past 10 to 15 years, this community has worked tirelessly to bring about a plan for a sustainable future for ourselves. This is highly dependent on the ability to capitalize not only on ecotourism but also the access to Disney and other attractions that the Wekiva Parkway will bring," Bernardo-Drugge said.
She added: "Those dreams will be permanently shattered if we become branded as 'Molesterville' or 'Pedotown…' " ..Source.. by Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel
