Jacksonville police: 2 men arrested for sexual offender violations on Halloween
FAC NOTE: If anyone has contact with these two registrants, please have them contact our legal committee so we can offer our organization’s support.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said two men were arrested Thursday for sexual offender violations
James Agee had exterior decorations displayed and provided candy. JSO also said Agee was dressed in costume and did not have a sign stating “No Candy or Treats Here.” FAC NOTE: He has a young daughter who he wanted to enjoy the holiday.
John Nelson had his porch light on and no sign stating “No Candy or Treats Here.”
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Clay County residents, I received a third response from one of our county commissioners. This commissioner stated: “It is apparent there is much work to be done in creating equity and balance within this area. Please continue to educate.”
I do feel our commissioners want to do the right thing, but I know that public pressure by people who are uneducated about certain matters can be difficult to deal with. At the Volusia County recent meet-and-greet, I met a woman who was able to attend the Volusia County commissioners’ meeting when the 2500-foot restriction was voted in. She said that one commissioner was adamantly against the proposed ordinance, voting a strong NO. At least three of the other commissioners were on the fence about the whole matter, definitely showing some reservations, but Sheriff Chitwood sat in from of them glaring at each commissioner as they separately expressed their concerns, finally giving a vote of YES.
What on earth do we do when commissioners are scared of the sheriff? is that a statewide phenomenon? Or are not all sheriffs like Chitwood?
So there ARE sensible commissioners in Clay. But imagine how much damage they would have done already without SarahF there.
And Chitwood doesn’t think we are humans who make mistakes. However look this up. In 2014 Chitwood was stopped going through airport security with his weapon ( Still a crime unless you are the air marshall ). They could have arrested him, he even admitted that, but HE got a free pass as a “Mistake” that could happen to anyone.
REALLY? Then why do all the other law abiding citizens who accidentally try and board a plane with their concealed weapon go to jail, get their license taken forever and get banned from the airline and more?
It is a double standard. Here is the article, he was Daytona police chief when this happened
Chitwood’s boss, City Manager James Chisholm, said Chitwood is human “like all the rest of us,” adding it was “certainly no cause for us to take any action against the chief.”
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-daytona-beach-chief-gun-at-oia-20140827-story.html
In certain legal battles for RC’s, there types of media stories need to be brought up and statements made like “he made a mistake like anyone else does” need to be said verbatim in a court or in legislative sessions where “the people” are allowed in to voice their concerns.
Sarah, it is good to hear that you can get county commissioners to reply to your correspondence, since those in Brevard County are too cowardly to do the same. As far as Sheriff ‘Shitwood’ goes, he is nothing more than a political showman who has found that villianizing those who are least likely to reoffend are an easy target for an uneducated public to focus on. And why not? Would he want to place his career on the line facing a violent criminal or challenge someone who hands out a piece of candy or turns on a porch light? For a LE coward the answer is easy.
I had a few choice words for the News4Jax Facebook comments thread about this. I commented that this was fear mongering (as usual) and I asked the news station why these two being arrested for misdemeanors was more news worthy than the 6 felony drug arrests, the 4 felony gun possessions, the felony (mulitple offender) DUI,(along with another DUI), an arrest for felony battery and finally, a felony arrest for “throwing an explosive in to a dwelling”. Of course, crickets from the news station.
Although the news station didn’t respond, other fb commenters saw your comments, and it probably caused a few of them to think for once.
Thank you, Andrea. I too replied, but my reply was through their online news article via Facebook. Many of the comments made were disturbing and reflected a great lack of knowledge about this issue. It is scary that so many people base their decisions and comments on myths. Where are the “fact check” people?
But maybe more people are getting it than we think. I noticed as of last night, my reply and another reply by someone who knows the research out there had each received more likes than the other separate comments had. This is why we must continue persevering as a group.
News4Jax has always been my favorite local news channel, but it was disturbing to see this story being one of their lead news stories Friday evening when that time slot is always reserved for the most important stories of the day. Thanks for pointing out the real crime stories that should have gone in place of the two registrants, one wanting to take his daughter trick-or-treating and the other having on his front light.
I want to contact the two men involved and let them know to contact FAC’s legal committee, but all I can find out are the streets they each live on. Hopefully someone else has been able to contact them.
What is odd is, I have been bashed on here by people saying “Oh you don’t know what those people went through as a kid being molested”or maybe it is their family members.
But the truth is, 95% of those making comments like offenders should be burned alive etc. are just idiots who also hate black people, gays, Jews or anyone frankly who are not them.Heck, some of them probably have been to prison themselves. Sex offenders are hated even in prison.
It is like my street, the ones who do not like me living on the street don’t even have kids. I have outlived (by way of living here) 75% of my neighbors. Some have said I forced them to move when I wouldn’t. I didn’t force anyone to do anything.
I very much agree with you. I think that unless a person is working on Registry advocacy, is affected by it, or whatever, then any person who would comment on a Registry-related article in a hateful way is almost certainly a pathetic excuse of a human.
Also, I’ve commented on thousands of articles and I have consistently found out that nearly all people who will argue with me for any significant length of time are actually so dumb that it is fairly apparent just with their briefly demonstrated writing and thinking skills. Most of them are that dumb. I expect most have low self-esteem also and it makes them feel better to attack other people. Informed, intelligent, normal people with good self-esteem don’t support Registries. Just my opinion but I’m sure it’s correct. 🙂
Some of your former neighbors said that you forced them to move?! That would make me very happy. I’m glad when Registry Nazis are negatively affected by the Registries. I’m glad when they are upset that I live near them. That is one of the best features on the Registries. If someone told me that I would say, “Good, I’m glad. Who would want to live around you? I hope it affected the value of your home too.”
It is also funny, I looked on the registry map and very few places you can go in my county and not be within a few blocks of someone on the registry. I hope they forgot to check and moved into a house deep between two people on the registry lol
Also when they moved out, a nice couple moved in who actually like me and treat me with respect.
I have lived in my Brevard County home since 2004. With one exception several years ago, I get along fine with my neighbors. One of my best neighbors is a retired NYPD lieutenant. My neighbor across the street has kids who play in front of my home all the time…not a problem. Another neighbor who initially said he wanted to have nothing to do with me, is now a good friend. I have found out in my lifetime that we all have had failures in our lives for a wide range of various reasons. Heaven knows that I saved the careers of several sailors by not holding a one-time failure against them when they were otherwise stellar Navy men. Our character is not defined by a failure. Lies about RC’s have been so blown out of proportion that nowadays a drug dealer or home invader is looked upon as a non-hazard. I thank God for my good neighbors and the restoration of my family…at least that portion of the family that matters. Even families have ‘holier than thou’ members. I rely on Alfred E. Newman for advice about such members…”What, me worry?”
Well I only have one family that gives me grief. When someone new moves in, they take it upon themselves to notify them about me. I keep hoping they will move but they have lived here longer than me.
Plus I know what to expect from them and someone else may be somehow worse LOL
I leave it in God’s hands and realize I cannot control what I cannot control.
I said this to you several times before but never got a response, Thank you for your service. I was born in the Great lakes Naval hospital
My dad was a Chief Petty Officer but I do not think I ever saw him any prouder than the day I graduated from the Naval Academy. We got to fly together in a P-2 “Neptune” before he retired. I was so blessed to be able to serve for 29 years. It was an honor. Thank you for your kind comment.
Thanks for commenting, Will Allen. I have seen some of your comments at media outlets. They are very good and put most other commenters to shame.
Yeah, prisoners don’t like those confined for sexually-based offenses, particularly those involving children. However, I wonder how many of these “virtuous” inmates who threaten, harass, extort, assault, rape, and kill those doing time for a sexual offense against a child would readily murder a child witness to silence them in a capital case? How many of these same men would see a child witness as a “loose end” that needs to be eliminated?
Yeah when I was in the county jail, there was an elderly man who had a sex offense. Not sure how everyone found out but a big huge thug of a guy was giving him a hard time saying things to him I wouldn’t say to anyone.
Anyway, when I bonded out, I looked up the guy who was threatening the old man, and that guy had murdered a family during a home invasion.
Yeah that precious Angel’s charges were wayyyyy better than the old mans.
I did some research This evening and both of these individuals appeared before Judge Michelle Kalil on Nov 4th. in Duval co Court. Neither had any representation of record . The Asst.states attorney was Jamie Virginia Cona,
both men plead nolo contendere, Mr Agee was sentenced to 2 days given time served 2 days and adjudicated guilty and charged $303. in fines due Dec 2. Mr Agee’s case comes from an register-able offense from 1995 when he was slightly over 18. Nearly 25 years ago
Mr Nelson plead nolo contendere as well but for some reason adjudication was withheld he was given the same $303. fine which is due Dec 2 as well. Mr Nelson’s register-able offense happened in 1989 . Nearly 30 years ago.
This is a travesty of justice and IMHO these men and their families have had their civil rights violated.
Someone please get them appellate lawyers FAST.
This is great research.
Dear Robin and anyone else who is interested, below are links regarding the Duval County Ordinances about sex offenders and Halloween. Note, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office info is repeated verbatim by the media post. This means the media is not interested in the truth, only whatever propaganda a LE agency spews.
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/action-button/rules-for-sexual-offenders-and-predators-on-halloween-in-duval-county/1002353753
https://www.jaxsheriff.org/News/Halloween2019-Sexual-Offenders-and-Predators.aspx
Yes, a nice copy-and-paste job by NewsFurJax!
Everyone can sleep better that these two candy bandits are off the streets. Shame on those guys ( MAJOR sarcasm )
I can understand they broke the rules but often people like this get sentenced and it looks like they committed another sex crime.
Having said that, if they did not follow the rules and got caught, the judge is not going to give them any leeway, or feel sorry for them. Possible but not likely.
But since these were county ordinances, am I correct in saying they cannot be sent to prison — it would have to be a few days in the county jail?
Would not be a long sentence. But they and their families have been tarnished in the media. And they may have hurt their ability to petition out of the registry in the foreseeable future.
It absolutely has, because according to the stipulations to get off the registry, you cannot be arrested, period, not arrested and charges dropped or even filed for that matter, just arrested.
I am not a conspiracy theorist but do believe that is the back office plan. To get as many offenders violated on a minor infraction of the rules so as to not ever be able to get off the registry.
A lot of those on the registry do not know that before a law suit, NO one could get off the registry. A judge ruled there had to be a path to redemption. Well Florida made it so hard and so long that most cannot or will not ever reach that time. Either 20 or 25 years and not from when you were arrested but starting from the first day you were off all paper.
Cherokee Jack – where do you find that ruling?
Universal Citation: FL Stat § 943.04354 (2013)
2013 Florida Statutes
TITLE XLVII – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND CORRECTIONS
Chapter 943 – DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
943.04354 – Removal of the requirement to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator in special circumstances.
Can’t find much else because most site do not show when these statues were implemented but I know for a fact that before this ruling, I had to register for life ( I still do ) without relief, but not can attempt to do so under that statue after 25 years off paperwork without any arrests. (still up to a judges discretion)
Before this statue , whatever year it was amended, every person on the registry was for life, as far as I know, with no hope of redemption.
Sorry I do not have a more definitive answer but you can ask anyone else in here who has been on the registry since it was created in 1997 like myself, that we had to be on for life no ifs, and or butts then the ruling gave us a 1% bit of hope. That was not always the case. I tried to call an attorney to find the information for me but he wanted me to pay him for the research . He wouldn’t even tell me how to out when a statue went into effect.
This is not a ruling, this is a Statute.
in 2006 it was changed to 25 years from 20 years.
The removal section (Section 11) was added in 1998.
Ok ruling ,statue, I titled it wrong. I guess in legal speak you need to say what you mean specifically lol
But yes, the point I made was that was at least some progress, maybe some more will come sooner than later with the Help of F.A.C , those in this group, attorneys and other advocacy groups and any who care about rights and justice.
Law enforcement, cities and counties keep trying to see what they can get away with legally or otherwise knowing that it takes time to get a ruling, hearing or judgement on the legality of such new “Safety measure” they cram down our throats.
Just like in Texas where a judge ordered several offenders back in the past to have bumper stickers branded them as such. The judges reasoning was that not everyone goes on the internet and everyone should know about these offenders.
The bumper stickers are similarly worded, warning motorists and pedestrians that there is a “Registered Sex Offender in Vehicle”
I bet every time you came out to your car it would be vandalized.
Citation noted
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/may/30/usa.world
I don’t think I’d worry about being “tarnished”. Anyone who would care about this is not a person to be concerned about. Most people and their opinions aren’t worth a bucket of piss.
And I don’t know about these people in particular but the real problem that this would cause for me is that I would not accept it without retaliation. Just being honest. I made a promise to myself long ago that anything Registries did to me, that I would retaliate in magnitudes. I have so far. Being arrested is grounds for very serious damage.
@SarahF,
Penalties in the ordinance:
“(c) Penalties. With regard to enforcement of this section, the City and the Sheriff’s Office may pursue any enforcement action or legal remedy available under the controlling state law and any legal remedy available to the City, to include, but not limited to, injunctive relief, arrest, a fine not exceeding $500.00 for each occurrence, or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 60 days or by both a fine and imprisonment for each occurrence, unless prohibited by law.”
https://library.municode.com/fl/jacksonville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITXIXPUSA_CH685SEOFSEPRRE_S685.104PRACSEOFSEPREX
(d) Separate violations. Each separate occurrence of any conduct prohibited by this section shall be a separate violation.”
This could actually be a good thing. Imagine the scenario where competent lawyers like those who handle cases for FAC and NARSOL get these ordinances ruled as unconstitutional. Keep fighting everyone!
And these two would make great plaintiffs! They have been crime-free for decades, and the arrests harmed their families and at least one little girl— in the name of protecting children!
Were these Registrants on Probation? If not, why is it a crime to have their outside lights on? Also, why would they have to have a sign on their lawns?
Because Duval county sucks. The county has an ordinance stating those on the registry have to have their lights off from 5pm-midnight and a sign stating “no candy here” hung where visible. Also, those on the registry cannot decorate for Halloween ((or Christmas for that matter,but that’s a conversation for another day)
They were not on probation and violated county ordinance.
Isn’t it sad when a county , or city ordinance can over rule or go beyond a state statue ? Just like some places have a 1500 foot rule from a school, others say 500 feet. Some say 1000. So confusing no wonder more offenders do not give up and go back to prison.
What is sad is that anyone who lives in America ever thought those “laws” were acceptable. That is what is sad.
But we know that America has been a hateful, idiotic, immoral country for our ENTIRE history. This is just the latest. I wonder if we will ever be a moral country.