Sex offender who visited Decatur school (his daughter’s) sentenced to 24 months’ probation
DECATUR — A registered Decatur sex offender who broke the law by visiting his child’s school without getting official permission first was sentenced Tuesday to 24 months probation.
Benjamin D. Mattingly, 29, pleaded guilty in Macon County Circuit Court to one count of being a child sex offender in a school zone, a Class 4 felony. He was also fined $300 and ordered to pay court costs.
Assistant Macon County State’s Attorney Kate Kurtz said Mattingly had visited Parsons Elementary School on Jan. 25 and had not informed or sought the permission of the school board or district superintendent, as required by law.
Discover more from Florida Action Committee
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
What exactly is a child sex offender? You mean his crime involved a child? on the record How about non convicted offenders or adult sex offenders or sex offender parent… home schooling here we go
this is just bs. I did not go to my grand daughter graduation.
even off probation. my wife taped the video to watch.
I was sad heart broken that this was only way to watch.
maybe some day will come and we can stand tall.
I could have went but this was her day. I did not want to be the spotlight.
only want the best for my family.
These laws are a disservice to our children and the law makers should be ashamed of themselves. Their laws, restrictions, and ordinances serve no positive purposes and only show them up to be the uneducated fools that they are.
This is so sad !!. And what is even more sad is, Those in the “Danger Zone” from the hurricane can’t even seek shelter !!. N. Carolina is not letting ANY PERSON REQUIRED TO REGISTER entry to ANY Shelter that has children, Or houses children during normal business hours !!!. So, What their saying is, A Registered Person Doe’s NOT Deserve to live !!!. I hear they can go to the “Jail Lobby” but can’t have ANY Family or Friends with them !! Even elderly or handicap People that the “Registered Citizen” is responsible for !!!!. This treatment is CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT if I’ve EVER seen any !!!!. So, Looks like “The Registery” is punishing Someone AGAIN !!!. Wake Up Government !!. The Registery IS PUNISHMENT !!!. Abolish It Now !!!
Tired – do you have proof of this? We would like to take action if, in fact, you can show that N. Carolina is denying registrants access to shelter.
Could NARSOL also get involved in this? It’s time to let the ‘world’ see how lives and families are being destroyed and do so with facts.
NARSOL is reporting NC denial of SOs in shelters. Telling them to check into local jail. Check SC and NC laws. for the record most JAILS can withstand a Cat 4 Hurricane plus power will be on vending machines hot food bathrooms and showers and local TV and phones. You are not put into a cel you stay in the waiting area and they have cots and blankets. Whatever you bring will be searched. You can only leave when all clear is given and cops hold your ID. It sounds much worse than it is. I plan a article about this in NARSOL Digest. JEV True Confessions
Supposedly, the whole point of such strict restrictions is to protect children, but this ends up hurting the children and grandchildren of offenders a lot. Where is the concern about that? My spouse’s probation doesn’t even allow him to say a few words on the phone to his grandaughter who lives in another state. He was told to hang up if she calls. I’m sure that would hurt her. He has chosen to just not answer the phone rather than rudely hang up. She uses her mom’s phone so there is no way to tell if mom is calling or she is. My husband’s big crime was viewing 17 online photos. And to top it off, he can’t even speak with his daughter if she wants to mention his grandkids. I also cannot relay any conversations I’ve had with them. My husband’s crime was a non contact crime. He had no previous record whatsoever, but a very stupid, bad decision has cost us all dearly. Never click on a link, even if on a legal adult site is the moral here. I guess the moral for the man who just got 24 months is never do anything without asking first. They own you now.
I know my children weren’t even born and I’ve missed 2 high school graduations a air force graduation I’m also missing numerous open houses and my kids games Now I plead in 91 there were no rules like this I was 18 in high school still I’m 45 now and this is getting unbearable. IT seems sooner or later every offender will violate for something. This was something I would have never plead to I was on my way to college when I plead out Then all this registration crap came into effect. I have 2 boy’s that are great athletes who I never seen play. They hell we never been on vacation or anything I don’t know where I can go also my daughter needed surgery and I take her to the hospital and get turned back the day of surgery mind you. Back in 91 on my 18, birthday I had sex with a 15 year old And got probation 4 years went to school on scholarship as well then restrictions came and now It’s bad. If I did not have a family I would just drop off the map as well you can’t live or raise a family in this manner. And as for the school my child’s teacher used to call me often they are honor roll students but when I told her I couldn’t volunteer because I am a s. O she stopped calling and my child says she stopped helping them and a friend of mine who is a teacher told me word spread around the school about my children so she told me to pull them now my wife home school them and you tell me this is not punishment I’m just trying not to snap but it is getting unbelievable
Tired, the way you are being treated is disgraceful. People who put these restrictions in place will some day be held accountable. They don’t seem to have any concern even for your children.
Are you the dude in the article? You seriously need to Appeal.
I see that Florida is not the only state with a family destruction program. These kind of rulings not only punish…unjustifiably so…the father, but also the children. I hope Georgia is pleased with itself.
bI have this same problem. I have grandchildren in grade school, and I do not dare go to watch them in plays or when they cheer lead at the games they have. And the thing is, it doesn’t matter how many years ago that the offense was done. Go Florida. Now this “governor” Scott is running for another political office. I wonder what he will try to do to hinder all offenders. This guy has no idea how many innocent people he hurt when he passed this “sex offender” list. This after I had been sentenced and served my time and was on probation when it passed. One of these days he will get his come comeuppance .
Point of contention: If he was a convicted killer, even of children, he would be allowed on campus without the need to obtain permission in advance. Draconian!
Drug dealer…no problem. Armed carjacker…no problem. Armed home invader…no problem. Drunk driver…no problem. What the hell is wrong with this country???!!!