Prosecution dropped following defendant’s death

1-11-18 Georgia:

Federal prosecutors asked for the dropping of charges against a man accused of committing sex crimes following the man’s death in December.

A federal grand jury indicted Brian A. Temple, 55, in September 2015 for attempted online enticement of a minor, interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and commission of a sex offense by an individual required to register as a sex offender.

According to the indictment, he allegedly used a cellphone in August 2015 to arrange a sexual encounter with a person he believed was a 15-year-old girl, and later that month drove to Florida to meet with the girl. He was previously been convicted in 1999 in Massachusetts for a sex offense against a child younger than 14, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s sex offender database. ..Contined..

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Was homicide victim attacked because of his alleged history as sex offender? Detectives looking into the possibility

1-9-18 California:

A Los Angeles man who was stabbed more than 50 times and whose body was dumped near Rosamond may have been targeted in the belief that he was a sex offender, according to a search warrant.

The slaying of Roderick White may be connected to comments found on his Facebook page ALLEGING that the 32-year-old was a child molester, Kern County sheriff's Detective Daniel Perez wrote in the warrant. In the years he's worked in law enforcement, the detective wrote, he is aware that convicted or accused sex offenders are sometimes assaulted or killed because of their criminal history.

Perez found a Facebook page that had selfies of White, and he noted comments made in March and April of last year alleging that White was a child molester and listing possible addresses for him in Los Angeles and New York, the warrant states. ..Continued..

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Homeless man arrested in 2015 killing of convicted rapist

12-22-17 Oregon:

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) — Springfield police say a homeless man has been arrested in the 2015 killing of a 71-year-old man.

Sgt. David Lewis said in a news release that 50-year-old Edward Hughes was arrested Thursday night in Eugene and booked into the Lane County Jail on a charge of a murder. He did not say what led investigators to Hughes.

The victim, Leonard Johnson, was found dead in his Springfield apartment on Sept. 7, 2015. He was a convicted rapist and registered sex offender. ..Source..

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3rd Man Killed in Train Wreck Was Convicted Sex Offender

12-22-17 Oregon:

Authorities have identified the third person killed in the deadly Amtrak derailment outside of Seattle as a man under federal supervision for a child pornography conviction.

Authorities have identified the third person killed in the deadly Amtrak derailment outside of Seattle as a man under federal supervision for a child pornography conviction.

The Pierce County coroner's office said Wednesday that Benjamin Gran, 40, of Auburn, Washington, died of multiple traumatic injuries in the train wreck Monday.

Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Seattle, said the prosecutor was notified Wednesday of Gran's death. Gran had been ordered to a lifetime of supervised release following a felony conviction for child pornography.

Gran had pleaded guilty and served two years in prison before his release in 2015. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender.

Gran died on the maiden voyage of a faster train route between Seattle and Portland, Oregon. ..Source..

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Sex offender wanted for Kokomo rape dead after standoff in Louisiana

12-10-17 Louisiana:

ACADIA PARISH, La. – Kokomo Police confirmed that the suspect accused of raping and confining a woman last week has died following a standoff in Louisiana, according to Fox59.

Gary Perkins, of Kokomo, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after Acadia Parish Sheriff Dept. responded to a report of a suspicious person at a gas station on Saturday night.

The victim told police that she was struck in the head and went unconscious around 6 p.m. on Monday. When she regained consciousness, she reportedly struggled with Perkins before she was strangled and lost consciousness again.

After allegedly being confined to a bed and raped, the victim says she was finally able to free herself about 12 hours later after the suspect left the residence. ..Continued..

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Child molester's death at Shelton prison investigated as homicide

11-22-17 Washington:

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Authorities say a 57-year-old man serving a life sentence for child molestation at the Washington Corrections Center near Shelton died over the weekend and police are investigating it as an apparent homicide.

The Olympian reports the state Corrections Department said Bryan Emmal died after "sustaining injuries in his two-person cell" shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday.

Corrections officials planned to conduct a critical incident review.

Emmal was a medium-custody inmate at the prison, which houses about 1,270 men in medium, close and maximum custody. Emmal began serving a life sentence Sept. 8 after he was convicted of child molestation in Thurston County.

Emmal's cellmate, Daniel Porter, is being housed in the facility's intensive management unit pending an investigation.

Porter began serving a 15-month sentence Oct. 19 for burglary in Pierce County. ..Source..

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For Illinois Sex Offenders, Six Years Can Turn Into Life In Prison

11-19-17 Illinois:

The Rockford native committed a sex crime, and in order to get out of prison he has to meet the state’s long list of rigid parole requirements for those convicted of predatory criminal sexual assault. He could remain behind bars for the rest of his life if he doesn’t find appropriate housing. For Lindenmeier, that means finding a place to live where, among other things, he is away from children and has no internet-accessible devices like smartphones and smart TVs.

Lindenmeier said he couldn’t afford his own apartment, so he turned to his family for help. But their living situations disqualified them under state law. He said his father lived too close to a park, his mother had a computer and smartphone, his sister had small children, and his dad’s girlfriend’s home was too close to a day care center. The rules even prohibit halfway houses from taking in sex offenders. So he remains behind bars, searching for a home. ..Continued..

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Accused child molester plunges to death trying to escape angry parents

11-9-17 New York

A Queens man was accused of molesting two kids at a children’s birthday party — and then wound up dead on the pavement hours later.

Edgar Collaguazo, 44, plunged to his death from a fourth-floor apartment inside a building on 95th Street in Jackson Heights early Thursday, police said.

He sublets a room in his unit to the 5-year-old birthday boy’s family, and had offered to let the child and a young girl watch a movie in his room while the adults partied, police and the family said.

But when one child’s mom went to check on them around midnight, she found Collaguazo with his hand down the boy’s pants. The girl later claimed the man had kissed her on the mouth.

Some of the adults began hitting Collaguazo. Then they locked the accused perv in his room and called the cops.

Collaguazo tried to flee out a window — and landed directly on a metal fence, before bouncing onto the ground, grisly security footage from the street level shows.

Police arrived moments later. EMS rushed him to the hospital in critical condition, and he later died, officials said.

The boy’s furious mom said Collaguazo and her son were very close, but she wasn’t aware of him touching the child in the past.

“I never imagined he was able to do something like that,” she told The Post. ..Source..

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South Carolina Sets Rules for Sex Offenders on Halloween

Other than fear mongering there is no known issue connecting former sex offenders with Halloween

10-28-17 South Carolina:

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina is requiring many sex offenders to stay inside their own homes during prime trick-or-treating hours on Halloween night.

The State newspaper of Columbia reports that the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services has set a 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. curfew for all offenders under its supervision for a sex offense.

The curfew applies to sex offenders on probation or parole. In addition, the state has set other rules for sex offenders on probation or parole, including no candy distribution.

The department says that agents checked in at 417 offenders' homes and made 320 landline phone checks last Halloween. No supervised sex offenders were arrested last Halloween, and four were cited for violating directives. ..Source..

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Watch: Okla. Deputy Shoots Sex Offender that Stabbed Him

10-24-17 Arkansas:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office has released bodycam video of a deputy shooting a stabbing suspect.

The deputy, Christian Good, was serving two warrants for the arrest of convicted sex offender, Phillip Trammell, on Friday.

As Good searched a room, Trammell stabbed him twice with a knife. That's when Good shot and killed him.

Sheriff Larry Lane said in a press conference Tuesday this is not what an officer wants to happen, and it can be a heavy burden to bear.

Good was taken to the hospital soon after the shooting. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Oklahoma State Police are investigating the incident.

Watch the video. It does contain strong content that some viewers may find disturbing.

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Convicted sex offender dead after stabbing Oklahoma deputy

10-23-17 Oklahoma:

SEQUOYAH COUNTY, Okla. - A convicted sex offender is dead after allegedly stabbing an Oklahoma deputy.

Authorities say a Muldrow police officer and a deputy with the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Department were serving an arrest warrant Friday for Phillip Trammell.

Trammell was reportedly wanted for forgery, child support and out of compliance with sex offender registry.

Investigators told KFSM that officers found Trammell hiding under a pile of clothes inside a home.

Trammell allegedly lunged at officers with a knife, stabbing the Sequoyah County deputy in the arm and chest.

The suspect was eventually shot dead.

The deputy was rushed to the hospital to be treated for his injuries.

According to KFSM, the deputy is expected to be okay. ..Source..

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Suspected sex offender dead after shootout with U.S. Marshals

10-23-17 Florida:

BROOKSVILLE (FOX 13) - A suspected sex offender is dead after a shootout with U.S. Marshals and Hernando County Deputies, according to Sheriff Al Nienhius.

The sheriff said detectives were serving a warrant for charges of sexual battery on a "very young victim."

Sheriff Nienhuis said the suspect fired at least one shot at deputies and detectives, who returned fire.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured.

The sheriff said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, The U.S. Marshals Office, and the Hernando County Sheriff's Office were all on the scene. ..Continued..

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Registered sex offender who escaped Fort Worth halfway house found dead in South Carolina

10-23-17 South Carolina:

A wanted sex offender who escaped from a Fort Worth halfway house earlier this month was found dead in South Carolina on Saturday.

Police believe Brent Allen Jozefkowicz died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Saturday morning in Myrtle Beach, said Lonny Haschel, a Department of Public Safety spokesman.

Haschel said officers also arrested four people suspected of helping Jozefkowicz escape on Aug. 4.

DPS, along with several agencies, arrested Jon Ryan Evans, 45, Teresa Kaye Shook, 51, Russell Wayne Shoot, 54, and Paula Pedigo, 45, accusing them of hindering apprehension, a third-degree felony. ..Source..

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Callaway County inmate found dead after standoff was registered sex offender

10-22-17 Missouri:

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. - The Callaway County inmate who died on Wednesday after a stand-off was a registered sex offender, Callaway County Sheriff Chism confirmed.

According to court documents, MacVittie was charged with first degree rape and sodomy back in March of 2000.

Seth MacVittie was in the Department of Corrections for possession of contraband inside a correctional facility before he was transferred to Callaway County Jail, where he escaped.

At about 2 p.m. Wednesday, deputies believed they saw MacVittie inside the home. Deputies and Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers were then called to secure a perimeter around the residence.

Sheriff Clay Chism said everyone else inside the home was able to safely leave and were removed from the area. ..Continued..

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Man killed in Jefferson County was burglar accidentally shot by accomplice, police say

10-22-17 Missouri:

JEFFERSON COUNTY • Three men have been charged with murder after police say one of them accidentally shot a man who was helping them burglarize a Fenton mobile home.

Ramone Thomas, 26, died at a hospital after the shooting at about 4 a.m. Wednesday in the 700 block of Chancellor Lane.

Police say Thomas was among a group of burglars who were ransacking a mobile home when the homeowner arrived and confronted them.

The burglars ran off, but during their escape, one of the men apparently fired a shot at the homeowner, striking Thomas instead. ..Continued..

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Convicted Sex Offender Dead After Stabbing Sequoyah County Deputy

10-20-17 Arkansas:

SEQUOYAH COUNTY (KFSM) -- A convicted sex offender was killed after stabbing a Sequoyah County deputy in Muldrow Friday (Oct. 20).

According to Sheriff Larry Lane, a deputy was taken to Sparks Regional Medical Center with stab wounds. Investigators said he was stabbed in the arm and chest and will be released after he is treated. His name has not been released at this time.

Investigators confirmed to 5NEWS that the deputy was on duty at the time of the stabbing, and that a Muldrow police officer drove him to the hospital.

Undersheriff Greg Cox said a deputy and a Muldrow police officer went to a residence at 10th and Enid at about 4:25 p.m. to serve an arrest warrant. Phillip Trammell was wanted for forgery, child support and out of compliance with sex offender registry. The officers went looking for Trammell and found him hiding under a pile of clothes, Cox said. Trammell reportedly lunged at the officers, and after a scuffle the suspect was shot and killed, according to Cox. ..Source..

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Iowa's High Court Rules That Despite Appeals, Sex Offenders Must Register

10-20-17 Iowa:

People convicted of sex crimes are still required to register as sex offenders in Iowa even if they’re appealing their convictions, according to today's ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court.

The case centers on the appeal of Brian James Maxwell, who was hired as a youth coordinator for two churches in the Winterset area in March 2014. That month he inappropriately touched a 16-year-old girl who he met through this job.

The next year Maxwell was convicted of lascivious conduct with a minor and sentenced to a year incarceration.

Maxwell appealed and was released on bail. At this time he also petitioned the Iowa Department of Public Safety, saying he shouldn’t have to register as a sex offender while the appeal was pending. Maxwell argued that registering as a sex offender “is a severe collateral consequence” that he shouldn’t have to endure since the appeal process exists to “weed out error".

The DPS says that if convicted, sex offenders are allowed to delay registering their status until their appeals are resolved, then this would allow them to live at large without alerting the community.

The state’s high court unanimously sided with DPS, saying that Iowa code requires people to register when “convicted” of sex offenses.

Maxwell later lost his appeal, ..Source..

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County Sex-Offender Registry Pulled Down Because of Lawsuit Fears

10-17-17 Colorado:

As we've reported, Montrose County, on Colorado's Western Slope, pulled its sex-offender list offline following a recent court ruling in which U.S. District Court Judge Richard Matsch found that such registries constituted cruel and unusual punishment in the case of three plaintiffs.

The ruling is specific to the complainants in question, rather than everyone on the roster, and Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman has announced her intention to appeal. So why make the move now? According to a representative from the sheriff's office in Montrose, a fear of lawsuits.

"There are attorneys out there going around and finding people to sue for stuff of this nature," says Undersheriff Adam Murdie. "We know it's going to trickle down to the counties eventually, so we're kind of preempting that." ..Continued..

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Doctors and cops among 277 arrested in human trafficking, online prostitution sting in Polk County

10-17-17 Florida:

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A week-long undercover sting targeting human trafficking and online prostitution in Polk County ended with 277 arrests that included doctors, pharmacists and law enforcement officers.

“That’s the most we have ever arrested in the history of the sheriff’s office,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.

“Operation No Tricks, No Treats” started last Tuesday, October 10 and ran through Monday, October 16. During that time, undercover detectives posted fake ads or profiles online posing as prostitutes or someone who solicits prostitutes. Other detectives responded to profiles and ads posted by prostitutes.

According to the sheriff’s office, 51 of the arrests were related to those who advertise as prostitutes online and 209 of the arrests were those who solicited undercover detectives posing as prostitutes. Seventeen arrests were made for other offenses.

Sheriff Judd identified some of the suspects arrested in the undercover operation as doctors and pharmacists, former and current law enforcement officers, a lawyer, two men who traveled to have sex with minors and two sex offenders.

These are some of the men arrested that the sheriff identified: ..Continued..

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Simi Valley City Council may repeal Halloween sex offender ordinance

UPDATE 10-17: Simi Valley Repeals Law Barring Sex Offenders From Opening Their Doors to Trick-or-Treaters

10-15-17 California:

With two weeks until Halloween, the Simi Valley City Council on Monday night may repeal a controversial law that says registered sex offenders listed on the Megan's Law website can't open their doors to trick-or-treating children.

Simi Valley Police Chief Dave Livingstone says the city has never enforced the 2012 ordinance.

Even so, Simi Valley City Attorney Lonnie Eldridge is recommending the council consider rescinding the law in response to the latest federal lawsuit challenging its constitutionality. The suit was filed Sept. 18, naming as defendants the city and Livingstone. City Manager Eric Levitt goes a step further, recommending the council simply repeal the law. ..Continued..

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