Neighbors near elementary school send sex offender packing
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RICHLAND, Wash. - It took less than two weeks for a convicted sex offender to pack his bags and leave the home across the street from Sacajawea Elementary School.
Jerry Sharp said, "I'm moving out today and uh I'm going to leave."
Richland Police sent out notices about Sharp on September 7th. He's a rapist, a kidnapper and a level three sex offender. He's considered highly likely to re-offend.
The 61-year old is not allowed at any city parks, schools or the library.
In fact, he's a career criminal, with dozens of convictions and known for failing to register his address with police. Despite the rap sheet, he's served his time and he's a free man.
When people realized he was living on Catskill Street, right across from hundreds of Richland school kids, neighbors took action.
The state has modest limits on where Sharp can live. He was well within his right to move into the home on Catskill.
One man told KEPR, "There's an 880 foot rule in the state of Washington and this doesn't fall into that so there's something's gotta be done."
That man known as "Torch" decided that "something" would be to stand on the sidewalk with his biker buddies and make sure kids got to and from school safely knowing Sharp was nearby.
Parents appreciated the effort. When KEPR went to check out the grassroots patrols, Sharp surprised us, coming out of his house to give his side of the story.
We asked, "You are, by law, technically able to live anywhere you choose so why leave."
Sharp replied, "Yeah, oh yeah, the law's in my favor but it's just, uh, the thing is that isn't acceptable."
That's why he says he's leaving Catskill with plans to live in his car.
The news spread like wildfire on our Facebook page. Parents feel they've scored a victory getting Sharp to leave when cops couldn't.
One parent said, "Well, it's up to the community to gather around, takes a village to raise children."
Some comments included defenders of Sharp, saying he's paid his debt to society and shouldn't be singled out.
Even so, keeping track of this highly dangerous sex offender will now be even more difficult if he's sleeping somewhere different every night.
KEPR notified the Richland Police of Sharp's plans. He is required by law to register with the Benton County Sheriff's Department every time he moves or every 90 days.
Failing to do so could result in his arrest. Sharp has failed to register his address many times before.
Jerry Sharp said, "I'm moving out today and uh I'm going to leave."
Richland Police sent out notices about Sharp on September 7th. He's a rapist, a kidnapper and a level three sex offender. He's considered highly likely to re-offend.
The 61-year old is not allowed at any city parks, schools or the library.
In fact, he's a career criminal, with dozens of convictions and known for failing to register his address with police. Despite the rap sheet, he's served his time and he's a free man.
When people realized he was living on Catskill Street, right across from hundreds of Richland school kids, neighbors took action.
The state has modest limits on where Sharp can live. He was well within his right to move into the home on Catskill.
One man told KEPR, "There's an 880 foot rule in the state of Washington and this doesn't fall into that so there's something's gotta be done."
That man known as "Torch" decided that "something" would be to stand on the sidewalk with his biker buddies and make sure kids got to and from school safely knowing Sharp was nearby.
Parents appreciated the effort. When KEPR went to check out the grassroots patrols, Sharp surprised us, coming out of his house to give his side of the story.
We asked, "You are, by law, technically able to live anywhere you choose so why leave."
Sharp replied, "Yeah, oh yeah, the law's in my favor but it's just, uh, the thing is that isn't acceptable."
That's why he says he's leaving Catskill with plans to live in his car.
The news spread like wildfire on our Facebook page. Parents feel they've scored a victory getting Sharp to leave when cops couldn't.
One parent said, "Well, it's up to the community to gather around, takes a village to raise children."
Some comments included defenders of Sharp, saying he's paid his debt to society and shouldn't be singled out.
Even so, keeping track of this highly dangerous sex offender will now be even more difficult if he's sleeping somewhere different every night.
KEPR notified the Richland Police of Sharp's plans. He is required by law to register with the Benton County Sheriff's Department every time he moves or every 90 days.
Failing to do so could result in his arrest. Sharp has failed to register his address many times before.
Considering BACA's record of harassment, assault, and murder, it is no small wonder why this guy would not want to register.Â
One should note that what these people did in harassing a sex offender is a hate crime under Federal Law! The man spent time in prison and received treatment for what he did. If he was living in compliance with the laws of the state there should have been no harassment of the man as long as he did not stare at the children out the windows of his home.Â
In the state where I offended I would be Tier 3 despite the actual measure recidivism in my case is 0.9%. The man was not violating the law so why so much hatred. KEPR should tell the truth of the probability of his re-offending and all those who hate sex offenders should learn the truth. incest-information.coffeecup.com is one site with a link titled The Truth About The  Recidivism of Sex Offenders.
These are not selected studies but rather almost everything the webmaster could find on line about the actual studies of recidivism of sex offenders.
No no one will know where he is...
What the Bikers did is arguably against the law.
Thank you BACA. Remember who the victims are, & who the criminal is.
BACA have their own issues, and this is nothing but harassment, IMO. http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com/search/label/BACA#.UFsPJlHzaSo
Remember when bikers used to be run out of town?Â
Well, humans almost eradicated the Jews, were successfull with the witches, displaced the Native Americans, Lincoln almost repatriated the blacks (lucky for them he was shot before he signed that law) the Crusades failed at eradicating the Muslims and now former sex offenders are the new boogeyman du jour. Â The registry costs under $500,000,000 per year and most of these guys are living on welfare. Â What is wrong with us?Â
Wait a minute here, this article is saying a person who was not breaking any laws, can be FORCED from the neighborhood solely because the neighbors don't like it and because he is on a registry. Â
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Lindsey below believes the registry can and should be used to promote fear among registrants. Â
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She makes up statistics in order to justify her position. Â She gets complete and unfettered access to a registry and can publcy promote the illegal uses of it.
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The registry is not just an "information" tool is it? Â It is used to illegally harass people out of neighborhoods.Â
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Do not believe ANYONE has to follow your laws while that registry is being used by the public in illegal ways.
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You all admit it, you take pride in it, isn't it funny how I can laugh at your registry and registry laws and not have to worry? Â It is because YOU people have lost your rationality. Â You think you live in a world where you can act like Nazis and strip legal protection from anyone you don't like.
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It doesn't work that way. Â But thank you all anyway, this stuff is public record and WILL be used against you. Â
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You can't force people from their homes and force them to follow laws that force them from their homes. Â If you can't have a judge, a hearing, and rational decisons, you can't have a registry. Â UNDERSTAND?
I have no idea why people would defend him, he is a habitual offender. These people need to re-evaluate their position when they say that he has paid his debt. Has he suffered since his sexual attack on his victim? Has he been tormented with the thoughts of sleeping in his bed, or walking alone down the street in fear of being attacked? I actually hope he has lived in fear of being attacked, people like him can not be rehabilitated. I say this not just about him but all sex offenders. There is a very high rate of recidivism for sex offenders. Crime rates for sex offenders have continued to rise, and will continue to do so until the people step up and fight for the change. A change for longer sentences for sex offenders. I give big praise to BACA for their efforts in helping "raise the children of the village". Thank you, thank you for protecting our children.
 @Lindsey While you get registry information and haven't a clue on how to use it, that registry, as a matter of law, does NOT have to be followed.  You should know why, because it is YOUR words that is doing it.