PORTLAND, Maine — The head of central and southern Maine’s Boy Scouts of America organization has been placed on leave, officials said Friday.
Anthony M. Rogers, executive for the Pine Tree Council, was placed on indefinite administrative leave on Jan. 9, according to Matt Randall, field director for the Pine Tree Council.
Neither Randall nor national Boy Scouts of America officials would say why Rogers was put on administrative leave. Council Executive Board President Horace Horton issued a statement Friday afternoon declining to comment and saying it was a personnel matter.
Anonymous sources told the Sun Journal that Rogers’ son, who is registered on the Maine Sex Offender Registry, had attended a Scouting event with his father.
The Pine Tree Council is one of two large Scouting organizations in Maine. It manages districts in York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Oxford, Franklin, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Kennebec and Somerset counties. The northern part of Maine is managed by the Katahdin Area Council.
Rogers has been an executive with the Pine Tree Council since September 2007. He came to Maine from Scranton, Pa., after serving in a similar position with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council.
Portland lawyer David Soley, representing Rogers, said he was working with the Pine Tree Council’s board.
“He cares tremendously about the Boy Scouts and their mission in this state, in this country and in the world,” Soley said. “He’s trying to work out some issues now, but he feels Scouting is still very important to him.”
Rogers’ son Anthony Raymond Rogers, 29, was charged with disseminating photos and film of child sex acts and child pornography in 2010 in Allegheny County in Pennsylvania.
The dissemination charge was withdrawn in July 2010, but Rogers pleaded guilty to the child pornography charge in October 2010 and was sentenced to seven years of probation.
As part of his sentence, he was required to register as a sex offender. An interstate compact was approved, allowing him to move to Maine. He is listed on the Maine Sex Offender Registry as residing at his parents’ house on Fort Hill Road in Gorham.
Soley said the son’s record does not reflect on the father’s history.
“Mr. Rogers has an exemplary record,” Soley said. “He has tremendous love and care for Scouting and tremendous care and love for all of its family — including the son in question. As to why [the Pine Tree Council has] done what they’ve done, you’ll have to ask the board about that.”
To see more from the Sun Journal, visit sunjournal.com.
Bringing a registered sex offender to a children’s gathering. No matter what his history is, he definately has very poor judgement.
Glad Mr Rogers has been put on administrative leave for allowing his son to be present at a meeting. No matter how good his record is he should not have allowed this.
That act alone would extremely diminish his exemplary record. Poor choice indeed.
And then he should be fired. What the F was he thinking? oh he wasn’t. And I don’t give a crap about any good record that he may have.
I agree, taking a registered sex offender to a young boys’ gathering was poor judgment even though the offender might have been under his direct supervision the entire time. As the parent, however, of the registered sex offender Mr. Rogers’ decision is somewhat more understandable. Unless he clearly violated one of the scout organization’s rules, he should not be suspended indefinitely.
So did Bob Carlson.
This is a another prime example of poor judgment.
I NEVER let my kid go anyplace that I will not be.
I have been abused as a child.
I trust NO ONE!!!
So do you go to school with your kid? Do you go to dances with your kid? Do you ride the school bus with your kid? Please spare us the drama.
I think cantspell makes a very good point and you need to get off your low horse. Drama? Do you think the rape of a child is just drama? Of course cantspell doesn’t ride the school bus. But I’ll bet he/she has met the bus driver…
I, for one, am glad I’ve trusted my mother’s instincts over the past 35 years. Unfortunately, my instincts were correct about Carlson – just couldn’t put a finger on it.
Your horse is no different than mine, hence your reply by demeaning me and throwing “rape of a child” into a discussion that has ABOSULTELY nothing to do with such an offense; so you just added to the drama.
Your last statement sounds to me like Monday night quarterbacking, unless, that is, you trust no one.
Why don’t you give cantspell some credit,Wayno? At least he/she is diligent about the welfare of his/her child,which is more than I can say for a lot of parents these days.
Get yourself some help.
For that matter no one can trust anyone absolutely, except God himself. But I wonder if you ever cross a street on foot. I almost got run over one time by a vehicle after only checking once before attempting to cross. Should I stop trusting my eyes and never cross a street again? Being filled with suspicion all the time is not a very healthy outlook. You need to forgive the abuser and go on with your life. Take care of today’s problems and never mind those of the past that are beyond your reach except for what you entertain in your mind.
god is a fantasy
It’s truly a sad thing that in your mind God is fantasy. In my mind He isn’t. I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t really believe this. But to me He is more real than what I see around me. I don’t mean to demean you, but what hope do you have in life for today and tomorrow and beyond? Maharkevin, I just hope and pray He will deliver you from your lack of faith by making Himself known to you in ways you’ve never dreamed of. He will not impose Himself on you however. You must remain open to the possibility of real faith by humbly seeking Him in your own heart where His existence can only fill you with your heart’s deepest and greatest yearnings.
This man needs to be charged. He put all these boys at risk by bringing his son, who he knew was a sex offender with a liking for children, to this camp. He was probably thinking that there would be alot of people around and his son wouldn’t have an opportunity do to anything, but why take the chance.
Charged with what? I ask you to look though the laws of Maine at Maine.gov and find a crime we can charge him with. My Lord, what an overreaction.
He put all these boys in danger when he brought his son with him knowing that he is a pedophile. If it was your child I think you would see things differently. That is why we never let our son go to any if these functions unless his dad or I was present.
I currently have three boys in the BSA, in fact my oldest just achieved his Eagle Scout, and my second is working on getting his next year. Not only do they teach them about camping, safety, and survival, they also teach them about community, forgiveness, and acceptance. And if you tag along to EVERY SINGLE function your child attends, than you are raising a child who will be dependant on his parents for the rest of his life. Good job.
Congratulations to your son, but the rest of your comment is bull. Acceptance? Why are gays not allowed in the boy scouts? I WAS a den mother when my sons were young. Just how involved are you with yours? Pedophiles are everywhere, and many of them masquerade as upstanding heterosexual citizens.
I would rather be an over-protective Mom – and kudos to HDRoadQueen. Rest assured that her son will grow up just fine and will appreciate that his parents care enough to keep him safe.
I was also a den leader when my boys where younger, and they all grew up just fine. Neither their mother, nor I every babied them, like I see so many parents do today. My children are always commented on about their manners and their good behavior. Yes, pedophiles are everywhere, but so are drunk drivers, speeders, murderers, drug dealers, etc, etc, etc. Are you going to hold your childs hand for the rest of their lives?
Why are gays not allowed?
Homophobia
You wrote, and I agree,
“And if you tag along to EVERY SINGLE function your child attends, than
you are raising a child who will be dependent on his parents for the
rest of his life. ”
Perhaps this is exactly what is going on with the younger Mr. Rogers. He is about 30 and still tagging along as his parents move around the country??
I am quite sure he is living with them because he made a very bad choice in his life and was going through it alone in PA. He is most likely living there while he gets himself back on his feet.
My son was in the BSA when he was growing up. I know what they teach because I was very involved with his pack. My son is an adult now and turned out perfectly fine. I have heard from him no complaints on how we raised him, as a matter of fact he is very grateful that we were so involved with all his activities when he was growing up. It’s not like we didn’t let him go spend the night at a friends house without us but we were pretty choosy as to where he did spend the night. We had to know the family very well.
I am sure your son is fine, I never said anything about that. My initial issue was with your post saying he should be charged with something. You can’t charge someone with a crime they didn’t commit. Second off, you made a statement that your child did nothing unless, “dad or I was present. ” That statement sounded like an overprotectant parent to me.
There isn’t any crime on the books for poor judgement. So how are you going to charge the father? Make up laws as we go along?
Maybe they can’t charge him with anything but for the safety of all these young boys he needs to be banned from BSA for life for his poor judgement.
I agree on that!
Child endangerment.
“As part of his sentence, he was required to register as a sex
offender. An interstate compact was approved, allowing him to move to
Maine. He is listed on the Maine Sex Offender Registry as residing at
his parents’ house on Fort Hill Road in Gorham.”
There should have been no ambiguity regarding Anthony R. Rogers’ responsibilities as a registered sex offender in Maine. His parents, who assisted in arranging his interstate compact transfer from PA to ME would be aware of those terms. Moreover, anyone involved with the Boy Scouts as long as the father has been also would be aware of the vulnerability of this population and the history of sexual predators cultivating access to potential victims within the organization.
That begs the question, Why would he allow his sex offender son to participate in any activity associated with BSA? Why would he taint his career with the Boy Scouts by exhibiting such disregard for the safety of the children and young adults, whose parents place their trust in Boy Scout leadership?
If the people at the top of this organization still don’t get it, what does that say about the organization itself?! This should be a matter of zero tolerance. If a representative of BSA demonstrates a disregard for protocol put in place to protect youth from sexual predators, the consequences should be unequivocal and swift.
That said, my heart goes out to these parents as they try to deal as best they can with this personal tragedy.
Very well said.
Kind of gives you a warm fuzzy, eh on second thought, I mean kind of creepy…There was no first thought to be clear.
Anyone who has this big a laps of judgment should not be leading young boys. The idea that the “leader” is also exposing many young boys to a sex offender, regardless of his relationship, is disturbing to say the least. The hurt it has done to the Boy Scouts, in this day and age, could be irreparable.
Nothing like overreaction Schoonerdog. Do you work for the media?
Do you work for the boy scouts?
No do you?
he got probation for child porn??
Mr Rogers obviously didn’t care enough about the Boy Scouts and their mission in this state.
As is par for the course with the media, they make a big headline without all of the facts. What was the “event?’ Was it a weekend jamboree where there are kids wandering all around, or was it an awards ceremony inside a building with adults all around? There is a big difference between these two “events.” If he took him to a weekend jamboree, where kids are wandering about and the father can not be at his son’s side at all times, than that is a bad idea. If he is at an awards ceremony, inside a church, and sitting at a table, than what’s the harm? The father knows the situation and can be at his son’s side to watch him.
The problem for the Boy Scouts in this case is perception. Mr. Rogers is a leader in Maine. Considering what’s happened in the recent past with child molestation-Sandusky and Fine-it’s no wonder that the Boy Scouts want to distance themselves from him. He should have exercised better judgment.
The problem is a leader – in that organization – knowingly allowing a predator in the midst of the kids. Those kids will use the bathroom alone – and predators look for stuff like that. Parents feel that things like scout meetings will be safe – and let me tell you – if they had no idea about the charge on the man’s son – they wouldn’t blink about letting him around their kids – getting to know them – giving him access.
To ConMeGuy and linda. Yea, I know that’s the case, but my frustration lies with the media and the drama they create. If this was a story of say a father taking his son to a Pirates Game, we wouldn’t read about it. But becasue it’s BSA member, it’s a headline. Now you may ask, “A Pirates Game/BSA meeting, huh?” A Pirates game is a public forum that has kids everywhere. What’s the difference between that, and the meeting? If his son is such a problem, than the son has a better chance of hurting a child at the game than he does at a BSA meeting. Am I making sense? Let’s just say, I hate the media. Can ya tell?
This is like letting the fox into the hen house! The son broke his probation, lock him up.
Not only was it poor judgment to bring his 29 year old son to a scouting event, but what to heck is a 29 year old doing living with his parents? Evidently, his son has more problems than being a sexual predator. Sometimes it seems like people move to Maine after they have broken laws elsewhere.
Really poor judgment on the part of Mr. Rodgers the elder. His son is a known pedofile and is registered as such. Why was the son not told to go home by others at the event? Again a lapse of judgment by the others there. BSA, what are you doing? You should be screening these people better.
A known pedophile huh? Did you know him? Do you even know the definition of pedophile? Does the article tell you he went searching for pictures? How do you know some girl didn’t send him a nude photo of herself? Did you know that a minor can get a sex offender tag for sending or receiving naked pics of a minor? It’s called sexting, and kids do it all the time.
Societal Decay
Exactly! Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Before you join ANY organization carefully study their doctrine/mission/rules/regulations. If you think you can keep your skeletons in the closet, think twice. The high and noblemen seek to keep out the riff raff except from the following: Boy Scouts, Sheriffs dept, Churchs,Healthcare,Politicians,Public Servants,Teachers,Unions,Wall street,NGO’s,Masons,Shriners,Womens groups,University students and administrators,Gaming officials,loved ones,Husbands,Wives,Daughters,Sons,Military soldiers and yes and some pervert commanders of our armed forces…Generals included. Did I forget Supreme Court Justices and Presidents? The high and noble by title offer little hope for the rest of us…Yes you included!
Disseminating child pornography is not the same as a hands-on offense. Furthermore, it does not specify the age of the children in question – it’s easy to assume it was a 7-year-old as opposed to a 17-year old (both children/minors when it comes to sex crime). Why does it seem that everyone here would like to assume this man is a deviant pedophile when for all we know, he was receiving nude photographs or videos from a consenting 17-year-old? I guess it’s easier to hate someone and judge them than it is to take the time to learn about the actual facts behind sex crime, huh?
http://www.endsexcrime.org
…
Someone had to complain in order for this action to have taken place and their was probably a bases for the complaint regardless of them trying to cover it up. Regardless the Pine tree Council has a duty to all the membership parents to release this information and release it quick as they can all be replaced.
Utterly disturbing.
Mr. Rogers is a human being like yourself. As a father, I’m sure he loves his son and wants to give his son the best he has to offer. At least, that’s the way I think a father should be like. If he merely took his son to a boyscout event chaperoned by other adults while constantly keeping his son directly under his direct supervision, I don’t see the harm or danger of this in and by itself. The only thing that I see wrong with this is the possibility of repercussions from other parents.
That said, I wonder how many events we attend are accompanied by a registered child sex offender. If they are not locked up, there is no sure way to keep them away forever. Besides, I wonder if keeping them away from events indefinitely is a good thing.
…
Can you tell me why? Why are they worse than a murderer, who is released after a 25 year sentence? Or a drunk driver who is convicted for manslaughter after a traffic accident kills someone? Or a burgular who breaks into a house while all are at home and assaults the family? None of these people are good people, but why is a sex offender worse?
Why are they worse than the criminals you mentioned? Because they stole the childhood of an innocent victim, that’s why!
You really don’t think that murderers, drunk drivers who kill people, or burglars who assault their victims, steal of the childhood or lives of their victims? Last time I checked murder is taking someone’s life. It sounds like you were in such a hurry to make a broad judgment of ALL sex offenders, you didn’t even take the time to read a few sentences.
Are you aware that not all sex offenders are child molesters, and that not all offenders whose victims are listed as “children” are necessarily little kids? “Child” means anyone under the age of 18. There is an enormous difference between someone who sexually assaults a young child and a teenager or young person who engages in a consensual relationship with a sexually mature 17-year-old. Assuming they are the same takes away the seriousness from the truly heinous crimes and opens us all up to being more vulnerable.
BTW, I think many victims of any kind of abuse will tell you that their lives are NOT defined by the abuse they suffered. Frankly, as a victim of severe physical abuse, I find it insulting that you would make such a broad assumption. It is possible to acknowledge the horror of something that’s been done to you without letting it control your life forever.
not to the Maine Tea Party
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/tea-party-leader-arrested-rape
Anonymous sources??? True or not I have a problem with this type of story. NO ONE should be accused in a public forum by “anonymous sources”. This is something that should have been taken care of within the BSA before the opportunity for such an possibility ever presented itself.
The anonymous sources were just telling the reporter some things that he could not get from official sources. If he really did bring his son to the event, there would be enough witnesses to verify it. I would view it more as a complaint than an accusation.
Complaints are not generally published in the newspaper. If that were the whole truth, this should have been handled as a complaint through the BSA. This could be something more personal between “anonymous” and Mr. Anthony M. Rogers. If so, this is a reprehensible act.
The anonymous sources told the reporter what the BSA would not officially tell him. That doesn’t mean the complaint was anonymous. Anyway, it’s different from being accused of doing something in secret. If he really took his son to that event, he’s got trouble on his hands.
This type of thing happens in the boy scouts all the time. A couple years ago, a boy scout leader in out area was convicted of molesting a scout at boy scout camp. He is currently on the Maine Sex Offenders Registry for 10 years. He was in his early 30’s, no girlfriends and lives in his parents basement. If the council doesn’t research its volunteers, then the parents need to be cautious. Hush, hush any bad publicity, don’t want to lose any of those high paying council jobs.
Why would a 29yr old be attending a scouting trip anyway? No adult unless they are a parent or scouting leader should be allowed to attend. Not sure if they run background checks on scout leaders or not but they should. They should go through the same checks as a teacher. I agree with putting the father on leave for his decision to let his son go on the trip knowing his background. He should be let go. He put all the scouts on that trip in danger and that is unacceptable.
….
Unreal, first Carlson and now this…
Help me out here Timmy.
I count a minimum of 4 countries where sex with children is condoned.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2001029/Child-brides-young-5-married-secret-middle-aged-men.html
The secret world of the child bride: Heartbreaking pictures of the girls as young as FIVE who are married off to middle-aged men
Pedophelia seems to be a pathology that is passed on. Victims often become perps when the get older. So why is this 29 year older now a perp? Was he a victim in the Boy scouts when his dad was a so called “leader” in Penn. Was he a scout leader in “Penn”? Is being a statewide leader a paid position?
Another black mark on Boyscouts like Mr. Carlson.
Good thing they don’t allow homosexuals in the Boy Scouts (like, even the law abiding ones, which is like most all). You know, values and all.
I would not mind a Homosexual in scouts. Not thinking they would be more or less likely to hurt kids just thinking they would be watched more closely .
In 7 or 8 years, he’ll be completely removed from the registry and nobody will know about his record unless they pay money for an official criminal record. Maine only requires 10 year registration for misdemeanor sex offenses. Just because he possessed child porn doesn’t mean he posed any risk to the Boy Scouts, especially at such a public event.
The article doesn’t even indicate the nature of the convictions – for all we know, he could have had images of a 17-year-old girl in another jurisdiction, which would NOT be child porn under Maine law (child porn only includes children under 16 pursuant to Maine law, making it legal to possess pornographic images of children 16 or 17). It doesn’t indicate the gender of the children involved. Maybe he had a girlfriend who was under 18 who sent him pics of herself via cell phone. Under Maine law, the absolute age of consent is 16 (or 14 or 15 as long as the older person isn’t more than 5 years older).
People need to stop jumping to conclusions and do more research before passing judgement. In many states you can become a RSO just by urinating in public. Just because someone had to pee in public, or maybe had a 17yo girlfriend send them cell phone pics, does not make them a child rapist or a predator.
Maybe you could help us identify the name of the child who died after he brought pedophile charges against FBI agent Hutton.
It is obvious the BDN has no interest in this case, eh?
Prosecutors move to dismiss charges against former Scout leader
January 3, 2007
NEW HAVEN, Conn. –Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss charges against a retired FBI agent who was indicted on child sex charges dating back more than a decade when he was a Boy Scout leader, in response to the death of his accuser.
William Hutton, 63, of Killingworth, was arrested in February on charges he enticed a member of his Scout troop to Maine for the purpose of sexual activity in 1994 and 1995.
He’s a 10-year registrant:
http://sor.informe.org/cgi-bin/sor/step3.pl?id=7180&search=1&last_name=ROGERS&first_name=ANTHONY&limiter=
Age of consent in Maine is 16, though it can be 14 or 15 as long as the older person isn’t more than 5 years older (so it would be legal for a 14yo and a 19yo to have sex). Otherwise it’s a misdemeanor:
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/17-A/title17-Asec254.html
It is legal to possess pornographic images of children as long as they are at least 16:
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/17-A/title17-Asec284.html
Be careful on the 16 year old limit on images. I believe federal law is 18, and I know a guy who had pics of his 17 year old girlfriend and got nailed for it, when they were found.
That is correct. The feds can charge someone for images of children age 16 or 17 even though it doesn’t apply to Maine State law. It is very similar to medical marijuana – even if a state allows medical marijuana, the feds can (and sometimes do) charge individuals with possession.
Thanks to the Bangor Daily News brand of gotcha journalism
Restorative Justice is DOA in Maine.
Still waiting for the BDN to get a Pulitzer Prize
LOL
By my count I have posted the material seen below about 10 times
over the last three months dealing with FBI agents getting arrested for pedophilia
The BDN has been mute about the issue of FBI agents investigating child abuse cases in Maine.
Edward Rodgers was in charge of investigating cases of Child Abuse at the FBI
THE DENVER POST – Voice of the Rocky Mountain Empire
May 17, 1990
Sisters win sex lawsuit vs. dad $2.3 million given for years of abuse
By Howard Prankratz
Denver Post Legal Affairs Writer
Two daughters of former state and federal law enforcement official Edward Rodgers were awarded $2.319,400 yesterday, after a Denver judge and jury found that the women suffered years of abuse at the hands of their father.
The award to Sharon Simone, 45, and Susan Hammond, 44, followed testimony of Rodgers’ four daughters in person or through depositions, describing repeated physical abuse and sexual assaults by their father from 1944 through 1965.
Rodgers, 72, who became a child abuse expert after retiring from the FBI and joining the colorado Springs DA’s office, failed to appear for the trial. But in a deposition taken in March, Rodgers denied ever hitting or sexually abusing his children.
FBI Agent Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse
Tuesday February 17, 2004 11:46 PM
By JOHN SOLOMON
WASHINGTON (AP) – The former chief internal watchdog at the FBI has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl and has admitted he had a history of molesting other children before he joined the bureau for what became a two-decade career.
John H. Conditt Jr., 53, who retired in 2001, was sentenced last week to 12 years in prison in Tarrant County court in Fort Worth, Texas, after he admitted he molested the daughter of two FBI agents after he retired. He acknowledged molesting at least two other girls before he began his law enforcement career, his lawyer said.
Monday August 8, 2005 Longtime FBI agent sentenced to prison on child porn count
By JOHN MILLER
BOISE, Idaho (AP) A longtime FBI agent who helped arrest mountain-man Claude Dallas and was involved in a deadly 1984 siege involving white supremacists in Washington state is going to prison for 12 months after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.
William Buie, 64, of Boise, most recently worked as an investigator for the Idaho attorney general’s office.
February 22, 2007
SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. A F.B.I. analyst has been sentenced to seven years in prison for having sex with a young girl in Spotsylvania County.
Forty-four-year-old Anthony John Lesko entered an Alford plea yesterday in Spotsylvania County Circuit Court to nine counts of felony indecent liberties upon a child. An Alford plea means Lesko doesn’t admit guilt but believes there is enough evidence for a conviction.
Authorities say Lesko engaged in a sex act with her nine times, beginning when she was nine years old.
According to the plea, Lesko said he was a victim in the case. He said the girl initiated the contact.
FBI Agent Accused Of Masturbating In Public
May 25, 2007 09:02 PM
FBI Agent Accused Of Masturbating In Public
Posted by, Marissa Pasquet KOLD News 13 News Editor
FBI Special Agent Ryan Seese, 34, is facing sex offense charges after a cleaning woman said she found him masturbating in a women’s lavatory on campus, according to a University of Arizona police spokesman.
FBI agent arrested on child sexual assault charge
January 15, 2008
PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) – An FBI agent is under arrest in Pueblo for investigation of sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust.
Authorities say 53-year-old David Allan Johnson is being held in the Pueblo County jail today on a $100,000 bail.
Former Great Falls FBI agent sentenced on child sex charges
Jan 23, 2008
A man from Great Falls who’s accused of sexually assaulting five underage girls will be spending the next 10 years behind bars.
Stanley Perkins, 64, changed his plea to guilty after police began investigating him for child molestation in August 2006.
The former educator, who also served two years as an FBI agent, was sentenced on one count of felony sexual assault.
I’m going to assume that the event was something attended only by adults like a leaders meeting. In that case it wouldn’t be a probation violation. However, it would be insulting and offensive to bring a registered sex offender to such an event.
glad my kid never ended up subjected to something like this growing up.. I would be in the police beat if he had. its a good thing mr. rogers is all done… hopefully forever
you do know the inmates are running the Asylum?
CHP officer arrested on child molestation charges
Saturday, January 21, 2012
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/21/state/n173511S32.DTL&tsp=1
Hmmmmmm, wondering if anyone is thinking what I am thinking………
Maine is a state where a vigilante murdered a young man who was on the registered as a sex offender because he had a relationship when he was 19 and the girl was 15.
Few people know (or care) how bad (how ineffective) the sex offender laws are.
I am sure it makes some feel that children are safer but how can bloating the registry with people who are not dangerous really protect children better? Garrido is proof
that this is not a good idea. 18 YEARS it took to get him and he was in compliance!
Maybe if law enforcement was only watching out for the truly dangerous s.o.’s, it could work better? We need smarter sex-offender laws, not ones that put quantity over quality. But these laws are a big hit with all those who are making money from them. Unscrupulous politicians, who never would have gotten their butts elected if not for these laws, are
happy about them. Media that is drama-driven, esp. FOX, rather than real news -driven, loves them. And overly-zealous prosecutors trying to make a name for themselves by increasing the notches in their legal gun belts like them. Not to mention the private prisons that have an unending need to keep their beds full and the always growing surveillance industry like them. So, they’ll probably be around for awhile. Parnoia sells. Sex sells. The two together with wanting to protect children in there is an extremely potent mix.
MOST who are on the registry are NOT Dangerous,. Their lives sure are being ruined, ALONG with their family and their CHILDREN’S lives …job loss, family loss, having
to move, becoming homeless, having to look over their shoulders for some nut- case vigilantes, some who have gotten the wrong people.
Who cares that the big majority are Romeo-Juliets (19 yr. old boyfriend and 15 yr. old girlfriend), urinated in public while intoxicated, mooned somebody for fun after a game, visited anadolescent prostitute who lied about her age….he may be a pathetic scumbag, but dangerous?? Or he could be one of the burgeoning numbers who downloaded “child” porn, MOST of which is adolescent girls/guys and do most men check to ask the age on
there??? Mothers, fathers, warn your sons! That’s one of the largest growing groups on the registry. This insanity is being used to trap men (mostly) that would never harm a fly? It is getting more and more unreal. What has happened to our justice system?
If you are someone who does care about justice, educate yourself and help us in this David-Goliath fight Catching and persecuting people who don’t deserve it doesn’t help protect our children from those who do.
http://www.csom.org/pubs/mythsfacts.html
http://ilvoices.com/media/23945d47d1a0fd37ffff810bffffe415.pdf
http://www.thecrimereport.org/news/inside-criminal-justice/2011-05-are-we-being-smart-about-sex-offenders
http://www.reformsexoffenderlaws.org/
Read Jim and Nancy Petro’s book “False Justice” and Richard Wrights’ “Sex Offender
Laws: Failed Policies, New Directions” See the movie “Conviction” and Sean Penn’s “Witch hunt” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0C2aQprdIMhttp://www.oncefallen.com/