Weston Village Board approves sex offender ordinance

10-3-2012 Wisconsin:

WESTON — Sex offenders will now have more strict regulations to adhere to when looking to make this village their home.

The Weston Village Board unanimously approved Monday an ordinance to regulate where sex offenders are allowed to live in an effort to create safety zones for children within the community.

Registered sex offenders already are required to register their address with police when moving into a municipality, but this ordinance will prevent offenders from living within 250 feet of specific locations, including public parks and pools, movie theaters, daycare centers and athletic fields.

The ordinance also will prevent sex offenders from entering those same locations.

Village Administrator Daniel Guild said the goal of the ordinance is to stress the village’s “complete intolerance for sexual violence and assault.”

The ordinance was put into play following an incident at the Weston Aquatic Center July 3 involving a 22-year-old man and female pool guests. The man was not a registered sex offender and police said it was an isolated incident, but at Monday’s meeting, Police Chief Wally Sparks said sexual assault is a growing concern in many communities. ..Source.. by Wausau Daily Herald