Question about law (sex offender law)

[LittleDuck]

I don't know if this would be the right place to put this topic. The police blotter section just seemed to be stories from the news (and the background made me dizzy, but I digress). I also apologize for the length.

Anyway, I live in Georgia. My question is this: I know that sex offenders must register in the town/county in which they live and, in some states anyway, the town where they work as well (I recall looking someone up when I live in Massachusetts and seeing the home and work addresses but this was years ago). Does anyone know how the law works pertaining to offenders who technically are not living at a place but essentially are living there?

My neighbor "Bessie" (who is also my landlady and my ex's mother) started dating this guy "Moe" about a couple of months ago. He's been staying over there for weeks now, leaving only to go to work (in other words, not going home, which is in another county). He works nights and is there all day while Bessie is at work.

We've had a guy "Fred" in and out of the house recently, doing work on the roof and kitchen ceiling (finally our leak is fixed). Fred got into a conversation with my ex while he was fixing the ceiling and mentioned something about knowing Moe. Apparently they were both in prison together. Well sort of together. According to Fred, Moe was not in the general population. When my ex relayed this info to me, I said there were only a a few reasons I knew that they keep people away from the general population in prison and Moe is not famous.

My ex mentioned it to Bessie and Bessie said she knew about it, that Moe had taken a plea but he hadn't done anything (I since have doubts about his innocence, read on), yadda yadda yadda. To make an already long story not much longer, today we've had major issues with Bessie (she never seems to remember that I have a lease and am paid until the end of May) and I asked ex if Moe was registered here in Hall County. Ex didn't know, wasn't even sure if he was registered in his home town. So I looked in the GA sex offenders registry and he was registered in his "home town", but not here. I also found a news story about how he'd fled the state he was charged in after he was indicted, which is why I highly doubt his innocence.

So what I want to know, since, for all intents and purposes he appears to be living next door now, is he legally obligated to register in this town a well? Yes, his crime repulses and angers me, I just thank DOYC that there are no children in the family. There are some in the area, though. I wast to know if he's breaking the law.

Thanks for your patience reading this through.

[Ramblin' Dave]

If nothing else, it sounds like he might be violating the terms of his parole.

[Just Jocko]

Call your local police department. They will know if he is violating either his parole terms or the sox offender registration law. They will also be glad to know, in case there are any problems in the area.

[LittleDuck]

Originally Posted by Just Jocko

Call your local police department. They will know if he is violating either his parole terms or the sox offender registration law. They will also be glad to know, in case there are any problems in the area.

I thought parole just had to do with leaving the state? Also, is there anywhere (online) I can possibly find the records pertaining to the case? Most of it should be public record, right?

I've been considering making an anonymous call to the police about it but few people know so my ex and I would be where "Bessie" looked to first. The whole thing makes me feel kind of grimy.

[Ana Ng]

Originally Posted by Just Jocko

They will know if he is violating either his parole terms or the sox offender registration law.

I thought we only had that in Yankee territory.

True story- the stepson of my boss went into Mamoun's Falafel for lunch one day (he was from New Haven) and the man behind the counter refused to "hear" him til he took off his Red Sox hat.

[Ramblin' Dave]

Originally Posted by Ana Ng

True story- the stepson of my boss went into Mamoun's Falafel for lunch one day (he was from New Haven) and the man behind the counter refused to "hear" him til he took off his Red Sox hat.

There are places in New Haven where that would happen as well, 'cause, you know, the other university is almost in Boston.

[snoozn]

I think I found the relevant part from the Georgia Sex Offender Registry

I would definitly call the sheriff, explain the situation, and ask him/her what if anyting else, you should do. Here's the official word:

10. WHAT HAPPENS IF A SEXUAL OFFENDER CHANGES ANY OF THE REQUIRED REGISTRATION INFORMATION?

* If the sexual offender changes any of the required registration information, other than residence address, the sexual offender shall give the new information to the sheriff of the county with whom the sexual offender is registered within 72 hours of the change of information; if the information is the sexual offender’s new residence address, the sexual offender shall give the information to the sheriff of the county with whom the sexual offender last registered within 72 hours prior to moving and to the sheriff of the county to which the sexual offender is moving within 72 hours after the change of information.



11. WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF A SEXUAL OFFENDER HAS AN INCORRECT ADDRESS?

* Sheriff of the county of sexual offender’s residence.

[Just Jocko]

Originally Posted by LittleDuck

I thought parole just had to do with leaving the state? Also, is there anywhere (online) I can possibly find the records pertaining to the case? Most of it should be public record, right?

I've been considering making an anonymous call to the police about it but few people know so my ex and I would be where "Bessie" looked to first. The whole thing makes me feel kind of grimy.

There can be all kinds of parole/probation terms, but the barest minimum is notifying your parole/probation officer if you change jobs and if you change residence (and not only if you move out of state). I would imagine that a child sex offender has even more restrictions, up to and including staying a certain distance away from the victim, schools, parks and/or not residing under the same roof with (or within a certain distance of) children under a certain age.

I'm not sure why you'd want to make an anonymous call, since you're just calling (at first) to find out what to do. If they then say that they should be notified, then you can tell them. Chances are, not only will they keep your name out of it, they're not even going to let Bessie or the guy know that someone complained. First, they'll probably check in with his parole/probation officer (if he's still on parole/probation). If the parole/probatiion officer launches an investigation, who's to say why he did so?