Ayer braces for potential suit by sex offender

8-24-2012 Massachusetts:

AYER -- Selectmen met in an emergency closed-door session late Tuesday night to discuss "litigation strategy" after acknowledging a civil-rights suit may be filed against Police Chief William Murray and the town.

Attorney Eric Tennen, of Swomley & Tennen LLP in Boston, confirmed Wednesday that he has not yet filed litigation on his clients' behalf -- husband and wife John and Ashley King.

Though there was initial hesitation to disclose the potential plaintiffs' names, Town Administrator Robert Pontbriand read aloud the Kings' names as the complaining party. No other details about the nature of the potential causes of action were revealed.

On May 15, Ayer police arrested Level 3 sex offender John M. King at 6 Whitcomb Ave. and charged him with failing to properly register his residency in town.

The Sex Offender Registry Board determines whether an adjudicated offender is labeled a Level 1 (mild), Level 2 (moderate) or Level 3 (high).

Around the time of King's arrest, Murray had expressed concerns that the town had not yet properly implemented the town's newly adopted sex-offender residency restriction bylaw, passed by Town Meeting last fall.

The bylaw outlines the process by which Level 2 and 3 sex offenders may be blocked from establishing residence in many sections of town.

King's address, as stated on the board ....continued.... by Mary Arata