Marco Island makes it harder for sex offenders to move-in

How misinformed can people be?

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COLLIER COUNTY, FL –

It’s about to get harder for sex offenders to move to Marco Island. Monday night city councilors voted 7-0 to increase the minimum distance offenders can live from schools, playgrounds and other child facilities.

Currently they cannot live closer than 1,000 feet from a facility with children – and the new rule increases that distance to 2,500 feet.

At Stars and Stripes Daycare they take safety against offenders seriously. Any parent could find what offenders live nearby through the online registry but daycare owner Judy Elliot has a list of them posted next to the announcements.

“I do post it so parents can come in and look at it too because I’ve had parents come in and say ‘Oh I know him’.” Elliot said.

There are six names on the list right now. All of them would be grandfathered in under the new rules, meaning the ones who live within 2,500 feet of a restricted facility would still be allowed to live there.

Newcomers though cannot live that close.

“I think the further away the better it is,” Elliot said.

Suzanne Henry is a mother of four who supports the measure even though she realizes it’s tough on offenders.

“You never know what that issue was or why they’re on their but none the less I still have four kids and my main concern is just them,” Henry said

The tiny island would be more off limits to sexual offenders.

“I mean it’s not like you could push them off the island but that makes quite a big difference,” Henry said.

We asked if this an effort at all to just get sexual predators who are registered off the island.

“Well but legally you cannot do that. I mean would I feel more comfortable yes but I think our police department is full equipped to handle it,” Rios said.

Offenders who committed the crime while they were minors would not be included according to language in the ordinance.

City councilor Victor Rios says the new rule will help prevent against people planning to reoffend.

“Some of these people maybe they have recovered but history has proven most of them are repeat offenders,” Rios said.

The Florida Department of Corrections says 30 percent of sex offenders are back in prison within 36 months of their release.

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