TX: City refuses exception to SORR for terminal registrant.
An elderly bed-ridden registered sex offender will not be allowed to move in with relatives in a Montgomery County home for end-of-life care after Shenandoah city leaders declined to amend an ordinance that restricts residency.
The daughter of the 79-year-old man sought a waiver to the ordinance adopted in 2018 which restricts registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a child safety zone per state law. That zone includes schools, parks and public swimming pools. City Attorney William Ferebee said neither state law nor the ordinance provides a method for making exemptions.
The proposed change to the city ordinance, Ferebee said, would allow the police chief to make that decision on granting that exemption and for how long that exemption would be in place.
“Unfortunately, with this 79-year-old who is bedridden, it doesn’t change the fact that they are still a sex offender,” Councilman Ted Fletcher said at a board meeting earlier this month. “That’s what state law says and that is what happens when you break the law.” [FAC Note: Thought this wasn’t punishment?]
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As was started on another post of this is your reality you could just violate and let the state care for you. The other two options are just go to your family’s without notifying the state and gamble whether you die or they find out first.
The third I guess would be to go out in your terms and make sure you make a huge stink about it to let everyone know why. Of course the story sounds like this man is past that stage, which is both good and bad for him. But it’s things like this that really need with my mental health because what life quality do I really have anyways?
“Unfortunately, with this 79-year-old who is bedridden, it doesn’t change the fact that they are still a sex offender,”
Notice how “they” (instead of ‘he’) was used to intentionally vilify and dehumanize everyone with this label. Once again, it doesn’t MATTER what you did, it’s all hate by association.
You can leave a comment on the article.
Didn’t know whether to contact Gail directly or reply here. For Texas, I might have a solution in this case.
My wife works at a Geriatric center that accepts persons forced to Register (I refuse the S O title). It is located about 4 hours from Montgomery County in Texas.
Whomever please contact me for further information.
So basically, this “not meant to be punishment” label is going to hold it’s boot against your throat until your last breath.
Hiding behind the law like cowards. All they’re doing is making life harder for the family, not the offender.