July 7, 2008
I have a serious moral quandary going on. I recently discovered through the IL Sex Offender Registry that the guy who just moved in above me is considered a sexual predator. Apparently, at the age of 17, he had inappropriate contact with a 7-year-old child. This is reprehensible, disgusting, and many other words I don’t feel like typing. I believe he is now 25. I have two courses of action I can take with this information. I can share it with the entire building by making copies of his page on the website and taping the copies to every door in the building,including the laundry room bulletin board and next to the mailboxes. Or, I could leave it alone. There are pros and cons to both choices.
If I choose to share it with the entire building, the other tenants are almost sure to harass him. I would obviously share the information anonymously for fear of retribution. I can only imagine how many places of residence this guy has been driven from because of his past. The last thing I want is for someone who has changed their life to be badgered into madness by spray paint on their car or nasty phone calls and letters. However, his neighbors directly next door have three children between the ages of 6 and 12.
Perhaps the guy HAS changed his life. Maybe he served his time all those years ago, got the help he needed, and is really making the effort to be a contributing, healthy member of society. I try not to judge people based on a life they’ve left behind. Informing the neighbors, as I said before, is sure to make him a pariah at best and be mercilessly harassed at worst. Judging from the little research I’ve done, he has moved around a bit. From Michigan to Delavan to who-knows-where, and now Morton. The thing that really scares me is this: If something happens to one of the kids in the building, I will feel personally responsible for not informing my neighbors.
This is a really tough issue that I’m facing. Any input you can provide would be greatly helpful and appreciated.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Honestly, I would discreetely inform the neighbors/friends who I know has kids. And the others can endeavor to find out on their own if so inclined. I think there’s really no reason to force him to move out by making it impossible for him to live there unless he is currently doing something illegal. I assume he’s already served his time/done his punishment. Another thing to keep in mind is that this was done before he was even 18. It’s not an excuse, but he very probably has some mental issues and I think that as an adult we should give him a chance to get help for that…
July 7th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I just had this dilemma a couple weeks ago with our neighbor. I say talk to your neighbors and maybe give them a copy of the page. That way they know to watch out for their kids.
I wouldn’t harass the guy. If he keeps to himself there shouldn’t be any problems. But if anything looks funny I’d better hear you screaming all the way over at my house!
July 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I’m with ‘tearch. You should especially tell anyone nearby who has kids. And, unfortunately, for every child who we KNOW he’s touched, there are always more we don’t know about. I think the stat is like only 10% report abuse. Recidivism is through the roof for pedophiles, too. If you knew the guy had been convicted of robbery/burglary, you’d encourage your neighbors to keep their doors locked, right? Same thing. If the guy is repentant, he will understand the concern of others. Finally, like roaches, individuals who hurt children scurry away when like is shined. He’s less likely to act out if he knows others are aware of his previous mis-deeds.
July 7th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I agree with kate and Heather. I would speak discreetly with the neighbors so that they can keep an eye on their kids and then let them choose how to handle it further if necessary.
July 7th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I am glad I am not the only one who looks this stuff up. There is a guy 2 blocks away from me. There have also been 2 rapes in my neighborhood, and I mean CLOSE neighborhood, in the last few years. I thought about passing out flyers, then chickened out. Reading your blog makes me feel conflicted again.
Maybe you can do it a more indirect way. Slip flyers under the door with the website address of the sex offender registry, and urge them to look themselves?
July 7th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
You can literally print out a sheet with a picture of the offender, his description, what he was convicted of and when the crime occurred.
Now I wouldn’t necessarily post fliers all over the place. But going to your neighbors to hand them a copy is not a bad idea. I’m sure they would appreciate the concern and effort.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Katie,
I printed 20 earlier.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Thank God he’s not a neocon fundie.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
You could just give your neighbors a piece of paper / card with your blog address…specifically this post.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Good boy!
(That last comment was directed more at Jenn. Sorry!)
July 7th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I thought that there was a mandatory distance a predator had to stay away from children? Or is that just a school? And Mcdonalds!!! We had a guy hire on there, we were looking around, found out he was a sex offender and he had to quit bc we had a playplace.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I agree with some of the others, tell the neighbors who have kids. You would want to know. As a parent, I would want someone to tell me. You don’t have to tell your opinion on the topic, just give the information.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Ditto what most have said. Let your neighbors with kids know discretely and leave it at that.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I just looked on the registry website and I think I found the guy you’re talking about…and if so, you live in the same building I just moved from (and if it is the same complex *deleted by editor for safety* I feel sorry for you…they tried to screw me over when I left for a new job)…when I moved in there three years ago, I was told sex offenders weren’t allowed in the building?
July 11th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Your landlord should mysteriously find a copy too.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Mm… verifying with the police department might be a good idea too.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Yeah, this is a jolly fucking bandwagon but hold your goddam horses. Everybody has done something they’re ashamed of. Did the website indicate whether this guy has had any related OR non-related incidents since? Look up unresolved cases like this in those areas in the past eight years and compare them with when the guy left town.
Or here’s a shit-your-pants-it’s-so-radical revolutionary idea: talk to him. Introduce yourself. Cut the bullshit and tell him you know who he is and what he did, but tell him you’re not going to judge him, like you tell us, but let him know that he’s not anonymous. Then tell him you’re not going to rat his ass out to the neighbors and make things more difficult than they already are.
Personally, I think fuckers who rape or molest children ought to be loaded into a cannon and shot into a volcano. They deserve all the ridicule they get.
There comes a time where discretion should be used on the part of others when it comes to these situations. Maybe the guy made a bad decision one time. Should he spend the rest of his life at the mercy of his neighbors? He’s been sentenced. He’s served time. His picture is on a motherfucking website. Trust me, he’s been shamed already.
Here’s my solution: look into it first. Size him up yourself and use your own judgment. For the love of fuck, don’t jump on the paranoid douchebag bandwagon and shit on this guy because of what MIGHT happen. Please, learn what you need to, then decide.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Whatever you do, you need to be careful. It is against the law in Illinois to harass a sex offender or to use the sex offender website for the purpose of harassment. I suggest you talk to a lawyer (if you live where one of the posters says you do, there is a lawyer’s office next to the gas station on the corner of Main Street) before you start handing out flyers, etc.