AD HOC COMMITTEE

SEXUAL PREDATORS

OCTOBER 18, 2006

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Pleasant at 6:10 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Ed Pleasant, Leah Sellers, David Burke

OTHERS PRESENT: Tim Aslaner

Ms. Sellers distributed a listing of sexual predators in Marysville, along with a map where they live and/or work.

Committee to consider:

Ø Sexual predator should report to a responsible officer of the law.

Ø Identify locations where sexual predators should not be located.

Ø 1,000 feet appears to be the logical distance a sexual predator should reside from various locations.

Ø Does committee agree language is required for direction in those areas.

Mr. Aslaner stated there is a chapter in the Ohio Revised Code that addresses sexual offenders/sexual predators. He clarified that sexual offenders are required to register. There are different classifications of sexual offenders. A sexual offender is the lowest class of those that have to register. The State Statute requires a sexual offender to register once a year with the Sheriff’s office, and they also have registration requirements depending on where they work. If a sexual offender moves, he must file a notice of intent to move or relocate at least 20 days prior to the move date. There are certain offenses that if convicted, you automatically become a sexual offender. There are also certain offenses where the court has the authority to classify a person as a sexual offender, which would require a separate hearing. Sexual predator is a class up and carries a life-time registration requirement. There are also other notice requirements. People that live within a certain area of a sexual predator have to be notified of where that sexual predator lives. There are state laws that handle most of this. Committee needs to decide if they want additional restrictions or notice requirements for the City in addition to what the State already mandates.

Mr. Pleasant noted that legislation from other cities named bus stops, daycares and swimming pools and asked if the State addressed those. He feels that even the lowest class of sexual offenders/predators should be restricted from living within certain distances of certain locations. He asked if notification was required under the current law to the families. Mr. Aslaner stated there are different notice requirements for predators versus offenders. As far as a predator, people within a certain range must be notified. As far as notice to the victim of the crime in either case, they must be given notice as to where the offender is located. It’s a felony if the offender fails to register once a year.

Mr. Pleasant feels comfortable in naming specific areas to where he has concerns and would propose taking it to that level. Whether Marysville has a problem or not, he feels we need to have this law in place. We need to be proactive not reactive.

Regarding Mr. Pleasant’s comment about a bus stop, Mr. Aslaner pointed out that the State Statute requires that a sexual predator cannot live within 1,000 feet of a school or school premises. School premises is defined as, “the parcel of real property on which a school is situated whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities or training provided by the school is being conducted on the premises at the time the criminal offense is committed, or any other parcel of real property is owned or leased by a Board of Education of a school or the governing body of the school for which the State Board of Education prescribes minimum standards.” That probably would not include daycare facilities. Most of the sample legislation deals with expanding the 1,000 ft requirement to additional locations or areas.

Sexual offenders/predators not only include minors, but also adults. There is a different class for minors.

As a Committee, Ms. Sellers feels we need to have facts on which to base our legislation. Possibly have someone come in and talk to the committee about these issues and give some statistics. She divided the sample legislation into two groups: 1) expanding the State Law to include a broader net of areas by which these offenders/predators cannot live. 2) Criminal penalties are involved when a sexually oriented offender enters or remains in a park. She feels this is entirely different when you are talking about a criminal penalty associated with someone using a public facility. This would possibly prevent the crimes from happening. She has heard most of these crimes occur within a family or with people/children that are associated with the criminal. Most crimes aren’t people driving by schools and taking kids off of the school grounds.

Mr. Aslaner agreed that if the Committee is to pursue this, someone should come in with statistics, at least on the State level. Someone from the Marysville Police Department or Sheriff’s office should be involved in the discussion.

Mr. Pleasant would like to pursue something, whether it’s an expansion of the statutes, etc. He’s open to discussion. Committee would like to involve someone from the Police Department in future discussions. Ms. Sellers will get further information to use as research.

A second meeting will be rescheduled within 30 days. Mr. Aslaner will talk with Supt. Zimmerman to see if he would like to be involved in future discussions and also contact someone from the Police Department to attend the next meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.