In the Joplin Globe today there was an article that a Missouri sex offender is challenging the law that requires him to live 1,000 feet from schools and child care centers, saying it is unconstitutional. His attorney told the Supreme Court that the law should be “struck down” for two reasons. One being the 1,000 foot buffer is too vague, and two being the law imposes restrictions on the offenders that were not in place when they were convicted. The Supreme Court is faced with how to implement the new sex offender policies for people that were convicted of prior sex offenses. In previous cases the court has held the buffer zone could not be enforced against offenders that were already living near schools because Missouri’s constitution bars the “retroactive” laws.
Missouri first enforced the law in 2004 barring the sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of any school, public or private, as well as, any child-care facility. This ban applied to any location that the sex offender would sleep as well. If they violate this law then they can face up to 15 years in prison for repeat offenses.
The sex offender in question was only identified by his initials “F.R” was convicted of 5 felony sex crimes in 1999. He informed the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department that he wanted to move in with his fiancé, who lives in the St. Louis suburb of O’Fallon. The police approved the move at first, but then several days later was told he had to move in two days because of neighbors complaints or he would be arrested.
After reading this article, I read the comments that were posted by other readers and there is definitely mixed emotions about this. Some people say he deserves to be buried alive. I am not real sure I agree with something that extreme but I most definitely agree that he shouldn’t be allowed around children at all. However, the article doesn’t say what sex crime he was convicted of but I did look up the St. Charles County sex offender list on page 18 and there is only one person on there with the initials “F.R”. This man was convicted of rape and sodomy of a 12 year old. One comment on the article was that he should be able to live close if he was convicted of raping or sodomizing a grown adult but I don’t agree. Before looking up his initials my thought was even if he did rape an adult or sodomize them he still shouldn’t be allowed to be around schools and such because it’s only a matter of time that he takes on someone who cannot fight him off as well.
I also looked at the sex offender registry for my county and was amazed by how many offenders there are, and that is only the ones that have registered. My biggest fear is my daughter or son being violated like this and I do not trust very well. I am always very cautious of everyone, even people I know. Statistics say that children are violated more by someone they know than a stranger.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
A very eerie article you have found. It's very disturbing that somebody is capable of doing something so disgusting but I suppose everyone has rights, even the lowest of the low. However, when you abuse a child in that manner I feel like some of those rights should be taken away. What I feel is a good thing is how accessible this information of offenders is. I even have an application on my iPhone that will pull up your exact location and give you a map with pin points of where every sex offender in that area lives. You can click on which every pin you like and their mug shot with a list of offenses will come up. Valuable info for any parent!
ReplyDeleteI just watched an episode of "Sons of Anarchy", from the first season. In the episode a 12 year old girl was raped. The Club tracked down and found the rapist. They then performed vigilante justice by removing his testicles with a sharp knife and letting him bleed to death. Anyone who forces themselves upon a child is deserving of a punishment that is as heinous as their offense. This "F.R." should count his blessing that he lives in a civilized country, and is still alive and able to complain.
ReplyDeleteThat happens to be my favorite episode of SOA, Patrick.
ReplyDeleteAs for the rights of the child rapist...well, speaking as a survivor of rape and incest that happened from ages 4-12, he no longer has any. Especially not the right to be sexually active with anyone of any age or gender. In my opinion, a conviction of rape of someone who's either barely pubescent, or prepubescent, should carry an automatic death penalty.