Sex Offender Safe Haven

News 13 keeps you in the know about potential areas of concern in our community.  We checked one particular location that opens its doors to those convicted of sexual crimes.  And, learned how many offenders currently reside in Bay County.

Incarceration…giving up freedom.  This is what happens in many cases when a person is convicted of sexual crimes. However, some just get probation.  When those in custody are released…they still don’t regain all the freedom they once enjoyed.

Sexual predators and sex offenders…they are very limited as to where they can call home.  You may be surprised to learn that several live here at one address in Youngstown a motel along Highway 231.  We reached out to the owner of the motel but they declined to comment…only that they had been in business thirty plus years and they serve the people of Bay County.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement web site shows within the past week, there were nine sex offenders listing 12434 Highway 231, the Youngstown Motel, as their address.  Of those, two are designated as sexual predators…in all, the highest concentration at one particular residence.

Corporal Daren Priest of the Bay County Sheriffs Office coordinates the verification process of registered sex offenders/predators in the county. We asked him about feedback from the Youngstown community.  Cpl Priest says, “I have been up there about three years.  I stop and talk to neighbors, stop and talk to businesses.  They pretty much know who the sex offenders/predators are.”  He also says patrol deputies know the addresses of registered offenders and predators within their zones.

Generally, sexual offenders are defined as being convicted of a sexual offense.  Sex predators can be defined as someone who habitually seeks out sexual situations.  But, those definitions can vary state to state.

The Youngstown Motel is located little less than one mile from Waller Elementary School and a day care.  Still, for those sex offenders/predators living at the motel, that puts them beyond the county’s required 2500 feet from each location.  This requirement is beyond the state limit of 1,000 feet.

News 13 spoke with Waller Elementary principal Peggy Bunch and she tells us, “we do have the security that we have on campus so far.  We have the fences locked everyday.  We have parents and any type visitor come through our office and we put their license thru a raptor system and it automatically goes to find out if they are a sex offender or predator.”  Bunch says she feels secure considering those safeguards.

At last count, there are 398 sexual offenders, including 25 predators living in Bay County.  Corporal Priest says, the offenders and predators that we have are generally not too big of an issue.  We check them once a month on average and they know that we are present.”

Keep in mind, not all convicted sex offenders are pedophiles…crimes of that nature do vary.  So how do you know when a sex offender moves to a location near your home?  And, what is done to keep a check on sex offenders in Bay County?  A closer look in part two of this report.

 

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