Dealing with high-risk sex offenders


 


WEBUTUCK


– Advised by the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office that two high-risk sex offenders have moved into the area, the Webutuck Central School District will hold a panel discussion on dealing with high-risk sex offenders today, April 10, at 7 p.m. at Amenia Elementary School.

 

Last Friday afternoon, district Superintendent Richard Johns sent a "Key Communicator" e-mail to district residents informing them that two sex offenders have recently moved into the area.

"We do not want to cause alarm but felt this information was important to share with our Webutuck School District families," Johns wrote.

In a Friday interview, Johns said both offenders are new residents of Amenia and one of the offenders lives very close to the Amenia Elementary School yard.

After Monday’s Board of Education meeting, member Joe Herald said while one of the sex offenders in question is listed in the state’s sex offender database as living in Dover Plains, he is currently living right near Amenia Elementary School.

"The information that we have received from community members is that he has been seen at the Amenia playground," Herald said. "This is a serious consideration for us being that he’s right near the elementary school. I’ve been told that people have seen him."

"Our professional staff has been alerted to who he is and what he looks like and so forth, just to safeguard our kids," Johns said. "I think parents need to know because the community needs to know that they are out there. They need to take whatever measure they think is appropriate."

Speaking as a parent, Johns said parents need to talk to their children to ensure their safety.

"They need to broach the subject with their children at the level their children are operating at," he said. "Obviously, they should not scare them. What we should do is make them more diligent in terms of who they interact with. These folks are predatory in nature and I have never seen a whole lot of evidence that [sex offenders] have been able to change. They are into some really bizarre and sick stuff and they wait for opportunities. We don’t want your child to be one of those opportunities."

According to the state’s sex offender database at criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/, the two individuals are listed as risk level-three offenders.

Level three designates high-risk offenders, according to the site.

Both offenders are listed as having served time in a state prison.

School Resource Officer and Deputy Sheriff George Strid said, "We are having this meeting to bring people up to speed on what the laws are. Parents need to be aware and inform their children. Let them see the picture [of the offenders] and tell them to stay away from them. Children should tell adults about anybody that doesn’t look right, they need to let someone know right away. Especially if it's at a playground or a school bus stop."

Johns said the panel discussion will include Strid, Dutchess County Detective Sergeant Patrick Whelan, Elementary Principal Joel Freer and Johns himself. The panel will be open to questions and comments from the public.

"We will be diligent," Johns said.

According to the state Web site, the state’s Sex Offender Registration Act does not limit where a sex offender can live.

However, if the sex offender is on parole or probation, the terms of the offender's parole or probation may limit where he or she can live.

Both offenders are listed on the site as not being on probation or on parole.

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