Rep Schaffer introduces sex offender bill
He wants to raise penalty for those who don't register
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
cburnett@nncogannett.com
LANCASTER -A new sex offender law has been introduced in the Ohio General Assembly that would raise penalties for offenders who fail to register with their local sheriff's office.
Under current law, failure to register as a sex offender is punishable at most by a third-degree felony and up to five years in prison.
Under the bill introduced by State Rep. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, and State Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, failing to register as a sex offender would carry the same penalty as the original sex offense the person was convicted of.
For the most dangerous offenders, it would be a first-degree felony with 10 years in prison. Under the bill, sex offenders who fail to register and who have been convicted of failing to register in the past would receive mandatory jail time of at least three years.
Jim Woodside, a grandfather and Lancaster resident, said he thinks the proposal is a good idea. He has two grandchildren.
Sexual offenders have to be tracked,'' Woodside said. ''You have to have laws that will make them register, or they won't.''
Schaffer's bill was initiated by a proposal from State Auditor Betty Montgomery, a former state attorney general and attorney general candidate in November's election.
''For too long, many sex offenders have been avoiding the law and hiding in our neighborhoods by failing to register with local authorities,'' Schaffer said in a news release. ''This bill will make the law strict enough to ensure that the whereabouts of all sexual offenders will be known, allowing us to better protect our children and families and to ensure that our communities are safe.''
Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen said there are 77 adult sexual offenders registered in the county. Out of the 77, there are 12 sexual predators and one habitual sexual predator registered with the Sheriff's Office.
''In the five years the sexual offender registration law has been on the books, we have convicted 15 people who have failed to register,'' Phalen said. ''Five case are pending in court.''
Phalen said he supports making the penalties stiffer.
''It's very important that we know where these people are,'' Phalen said. ''Penalties help make sure these people register.''
Cat Vaughan, of 500 block of East Walnut Street, Lancaster, also supports the idea. She has two children, who are 10 and 12 years old.
''I signed up for the e-mail notification from the state to let me know if a sexual offender moves into the neighborhood,'' Vaughan said. ''They have the pictures of the people on the sheriff's Web site. But if they don't register, you don't know if they are living in your neighborhood.''
''The bill makes sense to me,'' Vaughan said. ''As a parent, it makes you feel better if you know where they are.''
Some local communities are also trying to extend the range and number of facilities sexual offenders can live nearby.
State law prohibits sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools.
In Pickerington, a city proposal would expand the parameters to keep sex offenders away from more than just schools.
Legislation was introduced in September that would prohibit sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, swimming pools available to the public, day-care facilities, city-owned or operated public parks, and public or community playgrounds.
Originally published September 16, 2006
He wants to raise penalty for those who don't register
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
cburnett@nncogannett.com
LANCASTER -A new sex offender law has been introduced in the Ohio General Assembly that would raise penalties for offenders who fail to register with their local sheriff's office.
Under current law, failure to register as a sex offender is punishable at most by a third-degree felony and up to five years in prison.
Under the bill introduced by State Rep. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, and State Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, failing to register as a sex offender would carry the same penalty as the original sex offense the person was convicted of.
For the most dangerous offenders, it would be a first-degree felony with 10 years in prison. Under the bill, sex offenders who fail to register and who have been convicted of failing to register in the past would receive mandatory jail time of at least three years.
Jim Woodside, a grandfather and Lancaster resident, said he thinks the proposal is a good idea. He has two grandchildren.
Sexual offenders have to be tracked,'' Woodside said. ''You have to have laws that will make them register, or they won't.''
Schaffer's bill was initiated by a proposal from State Auditor Betty Montgomery, a former state attorney general and attorney general candidate in November's election.
''For too long, many sex offenders have been avoiding the law and hiding in our neighborhoods by failing to register with local authorities,'' Schaffer said in a news release. ''This bill will make the law strict enough to ensure that the whereabouts of all sexual offenders will be known, allowing us to better protect our children and families and to ensure that our communities are safe.''
Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen said there are 77 adult sexual offenders registered in the county. Out of the 77, there are 12 sexual predators and one habitual sexual predator registered with the Sheriff's Office.
''In the five years the sexual offender registration law has been on the books, we have convicted 15 people who have failed to register,'' Phalen said. ''Five case are pending in court.''
Phalen said he supports making the penalties stiffer.
''It's very important that we know where these people are,'' Phalen said. ''Penalties help make sure these people register.''
Cat Vaughan, of 500 block of East Walnut Street, Lancaster, also supports the idea. She has two children, who are 10 and 12 years old.
''I signed up for the e-mail notification from the state to let me know if a sexual offender moves into the neighborhood,'' Vaughan said. ''They have the pictures of the people on the sheriff's Web site. But if they don't register, you don't know if they are living in your neighborhood.''
''The bill makes sense to me,'' Vaughan said. ''As a parent, it makes you feel better if you know where they are.''
Some local communities are also trying to extend the range and number of facilities sexual offenders can live nearby.
State law prohibits sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools.
In Pickerington, a city proposal would expand the parameters to keep sex offenders away from more than just schools.
Legislation was introduced in September that would prohibit sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, swimming pools available to the public, day-care facilities, city-owned or operated public parks, and public or community playgrounds.
Originally published September 16, 2006
