posted by Joe Polk at 11:07 PM /
Some parents in Mt. Lebanon are outraged after learning a convicted sex offender is living in their community. What's even worse is their school district and even the police department is powerless to act.
Link: www.kdka.com/topstories/local_story_115194738.html
Link: www.kdka.com/topstories/local_story_115194738.html
Labels: police, school district
19 Comments:
dI am very disturbed by this! I was under the impression that if a sex offender moved into a neighborhood that all local schools and homeowners in the immediate area were to be notified? I guess I've been living under a false sense of security! The Megans Law website also shows an offender living on Shadowlawn, I wonder if the Lincoln parents know that.
It is upsetting. I wonder what constitutes sexually violent? Of course, we all live under a sense of false security:
We need to be mindful that this offender actually registered himself. I imagine there's a sizable(?) number of ex-cons at large, moving from one location to another. Also, I'm sure there are offenders who committed their crimes before Megan's Law who are not subject to reporting/tracking.
I realize that convicts must be given the chance to reform and recognize that they must reside somewhere. On the other hand, I've read that child predators have a high rate of recidivism, so it's hard to feel safe around a "non-sexually violent" child predator.
A relative sent a link to me that shows a mapping of sex offenders:
http://www.familywatchdog.us
--Anonymous Mom of 3--
Quoting anonymous at 12:28:
I imagine there's a sizable(?) number of ex-cons at large, moving from one location to another.
Anonymous, what do you mean by "at large" in reference to "ex-cons?" My understanding of the term is as follows:
(adj) at large, escaped, loose, on the loose (having escaped, especially from confinement) "a convict still at large" -- wordnet
That seems different to me than "ex-con." I understand an ex-con to be someone that has served a sentence for being convicted of a crime and has been released.
Can you clarify, please?
Sorry Casey - poor word choice on my part, but you certainly cleared that up.
What I meant to say is that I imagine there are a number of convicted sex offenders who have been released and do NOT register when they relocate. OR they register and then take off for another location. You can search "sex offenders at large" and find different sites, like police departments, who are looking for these convicted and released sex offenders. (avoiding phrases like 'ex-con' and 'at large')
More importantly, the point I was trying to make, albeit poorly, is that we indeed live with a false sense of security.
--Anonymous Mom of 3--
This man served his sentence; he has earned his right to live among the rest of us in society. It is up to parents to protect their children (and I speak as a parent).
I would say it all depends on what the person did. If it was a 17 year old guy dating a 15 year old girl, that is much different than a 40 year old and a 13 year old. I think that is the biggest problem. They are both considered "sex offenders".
With that said, if some creep tries to go after a young girl (not the 17 / 15 year old scenario), then that person has no right to ever be in society again. He should forever be discraced and not allowed in towns.
As for the quote "It is up to parents to protect their children (and I speak as a parent).", I guess that may work if the parent has their eye on the child 24 hours per day. But if they plan on sleeping, it won't work. Also, the less fortunate families have both parents working and cannot afford after school daycare. I guess under this quote's scenario, those kids will be at risk.
Anon 8:10
I agree with your 17/15 scenario, I feel for the FEW who have to register due to those circumstances.
However, our new neighbor was convicted in 2001, he was 40 years old. That being said, I would urge all who own rental properties to check if your prospective tenants are registered as sex offenders. I'm sure you run a credit check to protect yourself! After all,not only is this a family community, our children walk to school.
Anon 11:13 - Are you implying that the parents of young victims are to blame for their child's attack? I hope not, I'm sure if you asked the Kanka family, they would say they were attentive parents.
"He should forever be discraced and not allowed in towns." [sic]
Not allowed in towns? Why not just publically stone him to death instead? Maybe we could just put him on an island with all the other people we well-adjusted members of society deem unfit, and let them have at it.
Anon 1:25 -
Agree with you, but it is concerning. We need to believe our system of reform works. Criminals do their time and have the chance to rebuild a life. They must live and work somewhere.
Still, the recidivism rate of sex offenders who prey on children is high and our children are among the most vulnerable members of society. It's frightening and I can understand another's desire to keep these offenders out of society. No easy answers... **Anonymous Mom of 3**
I agree with AMom3. Being a father, I'm certainly concerned for my kids' well-being. I found out about Mr. Evans' residency through the email grapevine of other Lebo parents.
I have to admit I'm a little shocked at the tone of the posts here and the emails I got. Parents being informed and aware is one thing. Panic, prejudice, and kneejerk reactions are another.
Anyone who takes advantage of children is a menace. Once the system has done its work though, that person deserves a second chance.
There are so many other menaces out there who aren't exposed to this sort of public scrutiny and outcry. Drunk drivers, drug dealers, tax evaders, jaywalkers... ok, I'm being silly. But I know of people who've had their license revoked more than once for DUI, and their face isn't being plastered on KDKA. Is that just?
I wonder how much the treatment these people get from society is related to the high rate of recidivism?
I too must say that I am surprised by some of these reactions. However my surprise is how forgiving many of you sound. If this man was convicted in 2001, that was only 6 short years ago. Forgive me if I don't agree that his slate should be wiped clean while there is at least one child out there that will live the nightmare that Mr. Evans imposed forever. My sympathy will lie with the victims.
ANON 9:40 - Perhaps posting names and photos on the news would not be an entirely bad idea. Fear of humiliation could be a very powerful deterant! Mt. Lebo now posts names and addresses on their police blotter.
Quoting the PA Megan's Law Website:
ANY PERSON WHO USES THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN TO THREATEN, INTIMIDATE, OR HARASS THE REGISTRANT OR THEIR FAMILY, OR WHO OTHERWISE MISUSES THIS INFORMATION, MAY BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OR CIVIL LIABILITY.
That website is run by the PA State Police, so I suspect they can back up this warning. In light of our rights – the rights and restrictions we all agree to when searching the database of registered offenders – what options do we have?
We aren't allowed to harass, intimidate, or threaten. That covers a lot of options.
Current state law allows convicted offenders to integrate into society after release, and the database of offenders can't be used by society to inhibit reintegration.
I've drawn a conclusion. I think this would be a very effective and legal form of protest: move.
Here's why I think it would be so effective. If you move out of the municipality you're voting with your feet and with your tax dollars. Perhaps this will cause the municipality to change the laws or maybe Mt. Lebanon can push the State legislature to make a change.
If you want to make a bigger impact move to another state, one with laws that protect you in a way that makes you feel more comfortable. That's the beauty of a Federal system.
So if you don't like the laws and statutes where you live now you can always vote with your tax dollars, spending, and future investment in the local ecosystem (children) by moving to a place that suits you.
Casey -
The snippet you posted does not exclude Educating the offender's neighbors about his/her crimes. Knowing that someone in your neighborhood is a potential menace is powerful information that can influence a family's conversation, daily routine and practice. Spreading awareness does not constitute harassment, intimidation or threat.
Moving is probably not an option for most people. Your premise assumes lives are completely portable, but they're not. What is left is working to influence legislation to further empower Megan's Law (remembering how long ML took to enact...) and citizen efforts to increase awareness.
**Anonymous Mom of 3**
Anon 12:32,
Deterrance - agree 100%. I posted a link to an RSS feed I created for the MtL Police Blotter a while back, which is here. IMHO, you break the law, your name should go up on the blotter. Putting the mugshot on KDKA at that point, in my mind, is completely legit. It promotes deterrance and community awareness.
However, once you've served your sentence, you're a rehabilitated member of society. You're entitled to a second chance, because otherwise why let you go in the first place? We should want that the convicted bear the scars of their crimes, but we shouldn't seek to deepen those scars. Like it or not, the guy's served the time the system asked of him.
I will do what I feel is necessary to protect my children. But my right to do so stops where his right to privacy and a shot at redemption begins.
And if he does violate again, throw the book at him.
The info is certainly eyeopening in our little village. I also know of another type of excon that recently bought a house in Lebo. He was apparently the leader of the WPA Pagan motorcycle gang and I remember reading that about four years ago the Pagans from WPA drove to Long Island to start a huge brawl with the Hell's Angels leaving one killed and many injured.. Who would funk that these folks would be living in our little mecca of perfection!
I'm the anonymous who posted about speaking as a parent, a few days ago. I agree with most of Matt C. Wilson's comments...and I would say that I can protect my kids (pre-teen and young teen) 24/7, essentially, with the help of rational laws and the kind of heads-up law enforcement we seem to have here. I don't want to see this guy, I don't particularly want to be his friend. But I can handle him being in the community...let's face it, you don't really know who lives next door to you, you may not even know what your friends and family are capable of, unfortunately. If you have a "sense of security," maybe you need to re-evaluate it. Love life, love your community, support reasonable law enforcement, keep an eye out. It's OK, it's not perfect, but it's the best you can do.
This has been one of the most obnoxious blogs of Mt. Lebanonites. Bottom line...don't trust anyone with your child except yourself. Uncle George..neighbor Mike, dear Rev. Father,Scout leader, PTA president...often, people hide behind proffesions and positions.
Personally, I don't need to know the specifics of the crime. I'm sure, since he received probation, that it was unforgivable. He deserves to have his life made miserable. In fact, all criminals who receive probation should have their pictures plastered on TV. Who's got a pitchfork, time to act.
I think there needs to be a distinction made between ex-cons who committed crimes and ex-cons that committed sex-crimes with children. There are more than a few studies that suggest Pedophiles are NOT reformable. Why do you think the 20/20 series keeps catching guys that have already been arrested and convicted? I do not think that in general the comments on this post are knee-jerk at all. I do think that in a walking-to-school community such as ours that the opportunity exists more here for a repeat offender than in other communities, especially since this guy decided to live about a half mile from Howe. Even if it meant they walked 10 extra blocks, I would not let my kids go anywhere near this guys house. Why risk it?
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