Predatory sex offender not breaking law by living near school

5-16-2013 Oregon:

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – A man listed as a registered predatory sex offender is living just hundreds of feet from an elementary school.

An alert KATU viewer emailed the newsroom, saying Jeffrey Kevin Hanson lived at 936 S.W. Agee in McMinnville.

According to the Oregon Sex Offender Registry, Hanson does live there. He was convicted of "sex abuse one" in 1986, targeting juvenile males that were known to him.

While the information is easily found on the state database, the database only lists offenders like Hanson who are considered "predatory" or those who are considered "sexually violent."

So, not everyone who is a registered sex offender is listed there.

Hanson lives just yards from Columbus Elementary School.

Sgt. Tim Symons, with the McMinnville Police Department, said they're aware of Hanson.

"We are aware of him and where he is living at. We do have information as far as who he is and what kinds of things he's done in the past," Symons said.

McMinnville police also said they've had a couple of questions regarding Hanson and his location in recent weeks. But he is in compliance with all current Oregon law.

There's no stipulation under Oregon law that restricts where Hanson can live unless he is under supervision, which he is not.

"He's not currently on supervision, which would potentially dictate the distance that he would be able to live from a school or a playground or something along those lines," said Symons.

So what does Hanson have to say about living so close to an elementary school?

"Well, after I lost my job at Boeing a couple years ago, I came to stay with my parents who've owned their home for 11 years," he said.

And what does he have to say to neighbors who might access the registry and find out he's in the neighborhood?

"Well, yeah, it was one 26 years, almost 27 years ago," he said. "I can't imagine they'd have any concern."

He also said he is out of a job and his unemployment ran out. And he has no other choice than to live with his parents.

Unlike other states, including Washington, Oregon does not classify sex offenders. A bill currently in the Legislature to do just that has been heard, but it's in committee.

Each case is looked at individually with rules applied depending on a number of things, including the type of offense. ..Source by Mary Loos KATU News and KATU.com Staff