Sycamore woman charged with refusing to register as sex offender

2-24-2012 Illinois:

SYCAMORE – A woman who recently pleaded guilty to unlawful residency of a child sex offender has been charged with refusing to register as a sex offender.

Peggy L. Becker, 35, pleaded guilty Feb. 15 to unlawful residency of a child sex offender because authorities said she lived too close to a school. Prosecutors have said Becker was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault in 1997 in DeKalb County.

Becker was sentenced last week to 12 months of probation and $800 in fines, and she was required to register as a sex offender for another 10 years.

Becker went to the Sycamore Police Department on Tuesday to register as a sex offender, but she refused to sign the registration form, according to court documents. She left the station with a copy of a form marked “refused to sign.” Becker returned Wednesday and again refused to sign the forms.

She has been charged with failure to register as a sex offender, a Class 2 felony punishable by up to seven years in prison.

She also has been charged with criminal damage to property, which Sycamore Police Sgt. Steven Cook said was made after Becker scratched a squad car. That is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in a county jail.

Becker’s bond on the new charges was set Thursday at $50,000. The public defender was appointed to represent Becker, who is next due in court March 8. ..Source.. by KATE SCHOTT