Since we've been online, we've received many stories from people who are living the registered life and their family and friends. These stories are sad, sometimes frightening and desperate. We want everyone to read these stories to understand the effects of the registry system. Find other stories at Ethical Treatment for All Youth here.

Another Living Nightmare....About to Explode!

By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 18.11.2008 Link to this story: [0042]

Note - This is in reply to Tale 0041. These stories are all over the US. It will only stop when we change these laws! Comments should refer to Tale 0042 and be sent to Alex at the above email address. ----- This story is typical of many and is similar to mine as well. Jail time, probation, fines and counseling, or as they call it, "treatment", were all what I expected for my crime, but losing my rights to live, work and play freely in my country of origin after I have successfully completed my sentence was not what I expected. To become a lifetime suspect in all sex crimes no matter how, who, what, when and where is to me the sign of a very paranoid and sick society. I'm appalled when I hear our politicians chastise other countries for human rights violations against their citizens, while the U.S. currently engages in depriving their citizens of basic housing. In their endeavor for security they are unwittingly building an army of outcasts, hardened in their prisons and then released upon their streets with little or no chance of redemption. With the decline of the economy, crime will inevitably increase, and with it more laws and more felons will be produced without a future to redeem themselves. A vicious cycle that will explode sooner or later.

[ Contact us ]

Texas S.O.Conditions a ¨living nightmare¨

By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 12.11.2008 Link to this story: [0041]

Comments to this tale refer to Tale No. 0041, and send to Alex Marbury at the above email, and I will forward them to the person making the entry. --------------------------------- From the mother of a young ¨sex offender¨ in Texas: My son is a registered sex offender in the state of Texas. He is also required to take mandatory lie detector tests (and pay for them) approximately every 3 months! I can empathize and sympathize with the stories that are posted on the RSOL site. My son had consentual sex with a 15 year old. At the time he was 21, had 50% ownership in a family fast food business, his own home & vehicle, and was attending Jr. College. The parents of the young lady were quite happy with their relationship until the father found out my son had an Iranian father! He pled guilty at the advice of his attorney and received 10 years probation and a life time on the Registry. He got out of our business due to probation restrictions on hiring policies for the store, sold his home only to find out he could not get find nor get approved for a new home due to 1,000 ft. restrictions to schools, day cares, etc... He is now living at home (we live in the country) at age 26. It took him over a year to find a job that would hire him with his "record", attends sexual offender classes once a week, probation meetings every 2 weeks, must register with police departments where he works & lives. If he was still attending college he would have to register on campus as well. He must have approval by his probation officer and his counselor in his sexual offender class to go anywhere over night or out of the county. This must be a thoroughly documented "schedule" listing the car he will be traveling in, license plate #, who he will be with, times & dates, and all activities he will participate in before they will consider giving permission. Some of the items he must pay are as follows: court fines & costs lie detector tests $125.00 urine tests monthly sex offender class $30 week probation fees sexual victims fund fees and lawyers fees to name a few He cannot use the internet, have anything other than basic cable channels (must have a printed copy of our cable bill showing all channels and any purchased movies), cannot attend any function where there are children (including family functions), cannot visit friends if children are present, cannot go to any business where alcohol is served, cannot belong to a gym that has a daycare, and on and on.... Because there is no distiction in cases, he is lumped in with violent offenders, predators of young children, etc... both on the registry and in classes he attends. He cried after attending his 1st sexual offenders class to learn/hear of the offenses that others in his class spoke about. In order to "advance" in these classes, he must admit to being a sexual pervert, must "confess" to any perverted thoughts, acts, or deeds. Must use the "appropriate language" when speaking of his "victim", his "crime", his "perverted act". In other words, he is brainwashed! This has been a living nightmare not only for him but all of his family as well. Unless the laws are changed, I can only see hundreds or thousands more families affected by these unfair practices and in my opinion, abuses.

[ Contact us ]

<We Fell in Love at the Wrong Time

By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 11.11.2008 Link to this story: [0040]

For comments, send to me at the above email address, and refer to Tale No. 0040. ----- From the Wife of a sex offender - over ME! Me and my husband met 10 yrs ago.. now we have been married 8 years, and we have 3 kids together. He has to register as a sex offender over me! I was 6 yrs different in age from him. He served 2 yrs in prison then my mom and dad signed papers for us to get married.. We are happly married. We just met at the wrong time in life.. I just dont know why we have to suffer like this because we fell in love at the wrong time....

[ Contact us ]

19 Year Old Virgin labled S.O.

By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 11.11.2008 Link to this story: [0039]

Please refer to Tale No. 0039 when you send comments to Alex Marbury at the above email address. ------------------ My son has been labeled "sex offender" wrongfully. He engaged in heavy petting at the age of 19, with a 15 year old. There was nothing violent about it. Her parents found out and called police and my son was arrested. The day my son was sentenced to 10 years deffered adjudication probation and to register for life as a "sex offender", he was a 19 year old virgin. His limitations are almost unbelievable and his life has been basically ruined. He was always a happy person and now he is on antidepresents and becomes very angry about the simplest of things. I want my son back, but first and foremost, I want my son to have his life back! anonymous in Texas

[ Contact us ]

Hateful, Terrorizing Neighbors!

By anonymous <> Posted on 24.10.2008 Link to this story: [0038]

To respond to this `tale` refer to tale No. 0038, and send comment to alexm60@fastmail.fm ----- I have been married to my husband for more than 8 years now, and had two children with him as well. He is my soulmate, my best friend, and so much more. When I met him, he was ashamed of his label society had given him. He even tried to hide it from me, which I totally understand why. He had been rejected, ridiculed, hurt, threatened and mistreated over something he did when he was 19 years old. He didn't rape anyone, or molest anyone. He touched the clothed breast of his 14 yr old female partner, and as many teen boys have made this mistake .. he failed to verify her age, being mislead to believe she was of consenting age. Nothing beyond that point ever took place, because he had thought to ask her age then, but it was too late as he had already touched her in a sexual manner. When he sent her home, refusing to go further sexually - she was hurt and angry. From then on he was to be a "low risk sex offender" via "indecency with a child by contact" for the REST OF HIS LIFE! We have since had to pull our children from school, and home school them, and been forced into living in an RV because we have to move away from hateful, terrorizing neighbors and communities simply because they see his name on a public list and out come the pitch forks and torches. We fear not only for our lives but our children's lives, because all it takes is one vigilante to bring about their own form of `justice` and murder us all in the name of "good deed done". How much further will society go with the public humiliation and degradation? I fear to find out. However, I will never turn my back on my husband. He's not a `sex offender` in my eyes, his mother's eyes, or my children's eyes. And WE are the ones exposed to him daily. So if we say he's safe, who are society and the legal system to say any differently?

[ Contact us ]

The `Falsely Accused`: Does anyone care?

By anonymous <mineonly54@aol.com> Posted on 14.10.2008 Link to this story: [0037]

RSOL does not certify that accusations are false, but in the current system, the accused is never heard, only the `victim` or her family. There have been many proven `false accusations,` so we will err on the side of letting the `sex offender` and his family tell their side of the story! Respond to this with reference to Tale No. 0037, and send to the above email address with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm ------ WILL SOMEBODY HELP, WILL ANYONE LISTEN, DOES ANYONE CARE???? In the eyes of the law, my son is a registered sex offender in Illinois. This is the furthest thing from the truth, a truth nobody has wanted to hear. Paul at the age of 18 was very close to his 2nd cousin, a girl who was 12. Paul is ADHD and learning disabled (All documented; report dated just weeks before his arrest show his comprehension level at the 4th grade, 7th month. This was an evaluation for special education paid for by the state to determine goals for life after high school). The cousins were together everyday due to her mom being a caregiver for my mother. On Memorial weekend, 2003, the girl`s family went on a camping trip which included Paul. Her Mom noticed them sitting close and wanted to know what was going on between the two of them. Both children denied anything was going on and yet she insisted that the children were lying. Upon returning home from camping on Sunday, the girl`s mother grounded her to her room, with no books, TV or games. She was not allowed out of the room except to use the bathroom until she told the “truth”. Regardless of what either child said, her mother refused to let her out of her room until the truth was told. Her mom went so far as to take her to the emergency room on Tuesday to see if she had been having sex. Finally on Thursday the girl told her Mom that Paul had touched her and was allowed out of her room for telling the “truth”. She couldn’t say exactly when this happened, only that it happened twice; once in February and once in March at my house. I know for a fact that it couldn’t have happened in March, because she was grounded the entire month for hooking up with a 23 year old on the internet, lying about her age, saying she was 18 and having him call my house so that they could set up a location to meet. The girl’s parents went to the police to file a complaint and until Paul’s arrest, she continually called him and told him to just tell the police he did it and everything would be over with. On Sunday, June 15th, Paul was stopped by the neighborhood police while driving one of his other cousins home. My husband and I were at the police station within minutes of the police bringing him there. They refused to let me see him since he was 18. I knew because of his low comprehension that he would not understand what was going on. Paul was kept there, booked and arraigned the next morning because he “confessed”. He told the police “Whatever she said I did, I did”. After Paul was arraigned and we brought him home we talked at great length about what happened. When I asked him why he didn’t ask for a lawyer when the police asked him he told me that he was never asked if he wanted an attorney. I told Paul that they had to have asked him and he said “no, they didn’t”! I said, Paul, did they say “you have the right to remain silent, you have the right to an attorney” and he said “yes”. I pointed out to him that that was the way of them asking if he wanted an attorney. He started to sob and told me he didn’t know that’s what it meant. He also told me that the police officer told him to just say he did it and he’d be out of there and home in to time at all. I know my son did not understand what was happening; even the police knew he had a disability. The very first thing on the police report is that Paul is ADHD. Someone should have intervened and explained to him. Upon reading Paul’s “confession” I knew that a large part of it had been dictated to him. As the months went by and we went back and forth to court, nobody wanted to listen or hear the truth. No matter the motions our lawyer filed, nobody wanted to listen. At one point, the girl`s mother (related through my sister, the grandmother) that if we gave them $2500 they would see what they could do about dropping the charges. This was brought to the attention of the state’s attorney and again nobody cared. This was all for money. Paul at this time was 5’ 2” and weighed 105. We knew we risked prison time for him if we went to trial and lost because of his “confession”; so when the state’s attorney offered a plea bargain in June of 2004 of 2 years probation we took it knowing he would never survive in prison being as small is he was, having low comprehension, and the maturity of a 12 year old. God, I am so sorry that we didn’t fight then. For 3-1/2 years we have been in a nightmare and it has now come to a head. Paul has had much difficulty in gaining employment, not only because of his “sex offender” status, but due to his disabilities. He finally gained employment, delivering pizzas and he was the happiest I had seen him since this nightmare started. When his boss found out he was an offender and couldn’t deliver to schools he was fired from his job and has not been able to gain employment since. I am now watching my son slowly die emotionally because of this label. He is appalled that this label has been put on him, knowing he would never touch or hurt anyone in his life and that nobody wants to hear the truth. He’s been accused of “touching” this girl, and to think that he is now labeled with others who have viscously attacked children. I, and my family have lost ALL faith in our system. Where is justice? When this all started I had faith and believed in our system, that the truth would prevail, that others would see he didn’t understand when he “confessed” because the girl and the police told him to just admit he did it. Now I see that it’s actor against actor, state’s attorney against defense lawyer; the best actor wins. Is there anyone out there who cares enough to help bring justice to this young man? Does anyone care enough to help fight a wrong? If so please email me at mineonly54@aol.com with the subject heading of Paul.

[ Contact us ]

Not Just a Soap Opera

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 10.10.2008 Link to this story: [0036]

Please refer comments to tale no. 0036. ------- My brother was falsely accused and convicted of molesting his two oldest daughters. This all happened after he remarried, and his ex-wife called my mother and said if I can't have him no one will. You wouldn't think this kind of thing actually goes on, only in Soap Operas. Anyway she got their two oldest teenage daughters to testify against him. He was convicted and spent 20 years in prison for something he didn't do. He wouldn't admit he was guilty, so they wouldn't let him out on parole. He maxed out, but now has to register. This is so not fair, after putting 20 years in for something he didn't do, to have to have the rest of his life ruined.

[ Contact us ]

Beware of Plea `Bargains`!

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 10.10.2008 Link to this story: [0035]

Once again, we urge `sex offenders` to beware of false plea `bargains.` Comments to this tale should be reference to Tale No. 35, and sent to me, alexm60@fastmail.fm NOTE: This has been edited to protect the identity of the person, but if you comment, we will send your comments to him. ------------------------- I am a former (teacher) who was recently convicted of indecent liberties with a minor (17 years old, just months from turning 18). My wife and I took this young woman into our home during her senior year at the school where I taught after she was kicked out of her older sister`s home. My wife and I were unaware the reason she was kicked out was because she was having sex with her 38 year old brother in law. Unfortunately, I made a very poor choice. Thankfully we never had sex. I am now classifed as a violent sex offender for having a consentual relationship (though not actual sex) with this girl. She didn't even want charges brought but because I was a teacher, the state pressed the case. I recieved very biased media coverage(many lies) and was strong-armed into taking a plea deal of 6 months out of fear of getting 5 years from a jury trial. Before this, I knew nothing of the unfairness of the sex offender laws and the sex offender registry. I CAN NOT BELIEVE I HAVE TO REGISTER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE FOR WHAT HAPPEND BETWEEN US. If I had know about the lifetime registry, I might have taken my chances with a trial. I have many supportive friends and family in the area and my church, who because of my case are interested in seeing these unfair laws reformed.

[ Contact us ]

Victory for David in Tennessee!

By Dave Dyess <time4change08@yahoo.com> Posted on 07.10.2008 Link to this story: [0034]

Comments about this tale should reference tale No. 0034, and be sent to Dave directly. Congratulations, David (first received Sept. 30, 2008) ----- I just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for all of your prayers, support, encouragement, and above all else your friendship. It worked !!!!!! As of yesterday, I am officially removed from the TN Sex Offender Registry and no longer under any registration requirements. The feeling of the weight of the registry being lifted off of my shoulders after twenty three years is undescribable but it has given me a new determination to fight for the rights of all registrants so that all of them and their families affected by these laws can one day feel the same overwhelming joy that I am feeling right now. I am still unfortunately listed on the Florida registry which in turn lists me on the National registry but that is a battle for another time and place. For right now I will settle for our TN victory and focus on changing the laws for everyones benefit. Thanks again for your friendship and support. Your friend in the battle. David -------

[ Contact us ]

The horrors of prison for `sex offenders`

By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 07.10.2008 Link to this story: [0033]

Send comments about this with reference to tale no. 0033. Please remember, tales and blogs posted are NOT the views of RSOL or its admin team, and the truth of these cannot be validated. We obviously try to post those we have most confidence are not untrue, or from a hostile source. We try to post a wide variety of experiences of persons accused, awaiting trial, in prison and on the registry. Please respond to alexm60@fastmail.fm ----------------- HORROR STORY OF `SEX OFFENDERS` IN PRISON This is from an inmate from a young man in the SW, whose crime was that he was found guilty of consenusal sex with a 16 year old waitress he met as a truck driver on the road: This is what has happened to me in prison since I turned myself in in 1995 because they were looking for me. I spent 18 months in jail because of the press and TV coverage. I was taken to court and given l6 years with 5 years probation. From 1995 until now I have been attacked four times that are on record. There was one other time. One time I was attacked by a sergeant and 2 officers. They left no marks on my body but I had 2 broken ribs. Medical reports said I fell against a wall. I was put in isolation for 2 years. In 1999 I finally made it to prison from jail and put into the population. When some of the inmates found out my charges, I was attacked the first time. I stayed in the hospital for 3 days. I had broken ribs and all of my teeth knocked out. In 2002 i was in a sex offender unit. I got into 2 fights, In 2003 I was put into the hospital again. I had been pushed down a flight of stairs that had 48 steel steps. I had to be put into a wheel chair. I was attacked again in 2005 and I was locked down because I could barely walk. Now I have to walk with a cane. I have had one heart attack in the prison. These are some of the things that have happened in prison. There are others I don't want to talk about. I hope this can help someone.

[ Contact us ]

Sex Chat Room Sting

By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 28.09.2008 Link to this story: [0032]

To respond to this Tale, refer to Tale entry #0032 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm ---------------------------- I am seeking justice for my boyfriend who has been severly punished and has his life ruined because the Federal government said he intended to harm a child. There was no child. He was contacted by a Federal agent in a sex chat room and enticed to meet (just across a state line in another state). He is serving 11 years as a sex offender even though he never talked to, touched or harmed a child. He conversed with an adult who wanted to meet him. And he has lost everything just because he talked in a sex chat room and went to meet what he thought was a consenting adult

[ Contact us ]

More than a quarter of a century

By anonymous <> Posted on 21.09.2008 Link to this story: [0031]

To comment about this tale, refer to tale 0031, and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm --------------- 26 YEARS AGO IN THE STATE OF WI I WAS CONVICTED OF A SEX OFFENSE. There were no such convictions prior to my offense or since. What this newly required sex offense-registration rule has done to myself, my family & friends can only be classified as devastating!!Never in my 74 yrs have I seen such destruction towards a human being from soceity & law enforcement because of this registration law. The sentence goes on & on & on daily. No way, in "GOD'S" world should such extended punishment for a 1st offender be allowed to happen! I am NOT pedophile nor am I a threat to society! I merely lost my sense of reasoning 26 yrs ago.

[ Contact us ]

The Harassed Life of the Solitary Parolee

By anonymous <> Posted on 19.09.2008 Link to this story: [0030]

This "tale" comes from the US Southwest, from an RSOL affiliated state contact who does excellent support work. To comment, refer to "tale" No. 0030 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm ---------------- I had a call at 11:00 last night from a scared parolee. Let me tell you about "Renaldo". He was arrested at about the age of 16 for sexually abusing a six-year-old. He spent 10 years in prison where I visited him. He had become a model prisoner, has commendations for leading anger management groups. He was released June 23rd and began the solitary role of released sex offender. He lives alone, works for his dad, who cannot visit him after 6PM. This was recently changed to a 7:00 curfew. He has to attend sex offender meetings for an hour and a half once a week, a two hour bus trip from his home. He wears an ankle bracelet and can be monitored or called any time. He is not to be in the presence of minors, even his own godchildren. He has no computer, no health benefits, but if sick is told to get a note from his doctor. However he has no doctor. He works for his father all day but can't live with him since the father had a conviction 30 years ago. He would like to go to school but knows he would have to tell everyone his charges. Last evening he went to a fishing area of town with an adult friend and they were 6 minutes late arriving home due to traffic. He called his parole officer immediately upon arriving and was told to be at the office at 8:00 this morning. This usually means being arrested. I told him to call me this morning. He just did and said he was given a lecture and told not to let it happen again. So goes the harassing life of the solitary parolee.

[ Contact us ]

´Victims´ & ´Abusers´ Need Compassion

By anonymous <> Posted on 12.09.2008 Link to this story: [0029]

This person did not send even an email, but his story cries out to be heard. To comment, refer to Tale Entry 0029, and email to alexm60@fastmail.fm -------- I was a fortunate one in the SO Treatment program. Although I probably would have "failed" the treatment had I stayed in one particular program, I "passed" in another town. I would not state, "I am a child molester." It was a horrible act I committed in my past that I will never be able to forgive myself for, but it does NOT define who I am. After five years of Group Therapy, I really believe there will be 'no more victims'. I'm now in therapy dealing with PTSD caused by my being raped and molested as a child. It is so sad that 'victims' who have created more 'victims' are only branded and cast out to live the Hell of loneliness, abandonment, fear and mistrust they have been in all their lives. Not everyone, but some of us, have been screaming out all our lives to be heard, noticed, loved, cared for. Unfortunately, with the warped thinking (that goes along with current ¨sex offender¨ laws), we have not been able to ask for what we need till now. Hopefully, 'now' is not too late for us.... Society can do a LOT to stop the victimization by LISTENING, being COMPASSIONATE, and understanding. We're not asking to babysit! We're asking that people realize when others hurt, with never having the opportuntiy to heal, they can hurt others. Stop the hurting and the hurting can stop.

[ Contact us ]

Be careful going nude at home!

By anonymous <> Posted on 06.09.2008 Link to this story: [0028]

To comment on this tale, please refer to Tale #0028, and send the comment to alexm60@fastmail.fm ---------------------------------------------- I was living and working in Las Vegas, I had a night time job working as an engineer. My wife and I had a nice home with a large 6' solid walled in back yard, which was common for the neighborhood since the back end of all the properties bordered a large wash. I would work in the hot shop all night and get off at 8:00 AM, then head for home and a good cool shower. During the summer months it was not unusual for me to come out of the shower and remain in the buff around the house for some time after. The morning the entire problem started I had finished my shower and my wife was preparing my breakfast, so I filled a dog dish with food, and took it onto my back yard patio for my Doberman which stayed in the yard. That morning, I looked up and saw two little girls standing on the wall of my neighboring back yard, where they could easily see over the wall into my yard. I went back inside my house and thought nothing more of it, but went to bed for my days rest. The afternoon of the following day I was awakened from my sleep by Police Officers who had come to arrest me. It was at this time that I found out what had transpired. One of the little girls had been telling the other kids in school what she had seen, and then one of her teachers heard about it and called the Police. The Police not only interviewed the girl, they led her with suggestive questions. I was to learn later that the little girl I will call (X) had a very poor home life, her mother was a known alcoholic and drug addict living with a boy friend, and had little or no time for her. Thus with all of the attention (X) found herself an 8 year old star of the show, and queen for a day, more than ready and willing to please her attentive audience. Now for the other girl that was with (X) on the wall, I will call her (Y) The Police questioned her also, but she told a wholly different, and true account of what happened. So now they had to create a whole new time line to make their charges fit. So the encounter was now to have taken place 2 or 3 weeks before the arrest. It should be noted here that (Y) turned out to be the child of illegal aliens from Mexico, and when all of the Police questioning started, she and her parents vanished off the face of the earth. Next for a little lesson in factual law, in the State of Nevada you or your Attorney do not have any right to question your accuser when they are a minor. The parents can testify as to anything they claim the minor has said to them, and it is admissible by Nevada law. So much for your right to confront your accuser in a Court of law, and hearsay evidence. I guess that most of you have guessed by now where the alcoholic drug addict mother is coming from, with her it is all about a lifetime of support for her habits when the law suits are settled. Almost any adult with any past experience with children, could have spent five minutes with (X) and brought out the entire truth. But it became evident during the hearings that everyone from the prosecuting attorney, right on down to the councilors, were doing their best to guard against this ever taking place. Now I will cover a little of the evidence, both (X) & (Y) were taken to the Hospital the same day from their school to be examined, neither showed any sign of sexual activity. So (X) mother suggest that (X) was assaulted digitly by anal penetration since the test then could not prove otherwise. I was promised by the County attorney that if I could pass a polygraph test, they would dismiss the charges, however after I was given the polygraph test and passed with no problem, when it did not turn out as they had hoped for, then they simply proclaimed it would be inadmissable in Court. So next they had me tested by a Court appointed psychiatrist, who’s report stated that it was his opinion that I had never committed any such act, and that I did not fit the profile. In the end my bank account being drained by a huge bail bond, and attorney fees over a years time, I was without funds to go any further. So my private Attorney dropped my case and left me with a ¨Public Pretender¨, my wife disposed of what little we had left to save our credit, and protect us against being sued. Now my Public Pretender, let me know that under the Nevada laws, if we went to trial we could not question (X) and (X) could say whatever she wanted without any cross-examination. And that (X) mother could take the stand and testify as to anything (X) supposedly said in her presence. The public pretender made it very clear that we had no chance of winning if we went to trial, and that if I lost I would be facing the possibility of two 20 years to life sentences. Or, I could take an Alford Plea, which says that I am not admitting any guilt to the charges, but am unable to defend myself against them. With this I got 3-5 years in 1996 for doing no more than stepping nude into by back yard. This is the American criminal justice system, and how the long arm of the law feeds itself. Now since I would not admit to any guilt in my case, I was made to complete my total sentence without parole. As soon as I was released from prison, I came to the State of Utah where I have lived nine years trouble free, then one afternoon a year ago a woman Sheriffs Deputy came to my house and arrested me for failure to register. I am now facing a mandatory felony charge of ninety days, and up to five more years in the Utah State prison for failing to register. I have since discovered that the Nevada Department of Public Safety Board of Pardons and Paroles/Probation, has classified me as a lever three offender. Requiring me to register for life, furthermore, in the State of Utah, out-of-state offenders are required to comply with all of the SO laws of both States. Thus every six months I am required to renew my drivers license, and re-register with the local Sheriffs Office, all of this at a cost of $135.00 each time. As an ordained minister I should not have to mention what this has done to my ministry. It could no longer be considered to be existent.

[ Contact us ]

Help needed in Georgia!

By anonymous <> Posted on 04.09.2008 Link to this story: [0027]

If you want to respond to this ¨tale¨ please refer to 0027 and send the email to me at alexm60@fastmail.fm. My fiance is a sex offender. I have known him for a year and we are now engaged. We have just attempted to move in together in a small town in Georgia. The location was approved and he cut ties to move here with me. We took the paper work from his former probation officer to the new one and were told that the location was not approved after all. He had no where to go back to and no place to call home. It is like a witch hunt here right now-- the school bus drivers are on the look out for him and all the neighbors are calling my landlord. His name is on the new lease, but today the landlords told us they don't want him back here on the property. I have looked everywhere that I can think of for a support group for family members of sex offenders but there seem to be none. What a need there is! We are really going through some things here and we could use someone to talk to about it. I know if you or someone could help us, we will be willing to help someone else in the future. Let me know what I can do to help with the reform and who might help us through this. thanks in advance.

[ Contact us ]

Another False Plea Bargain Goes Bad

By anonymous <> Posted on 25.08.2008 Link to this story: [0026]

Here is yet another story about an ill-informed plea bargain. To comment, refer to Tales 0026, to alexm60@fastmail.fm ------------------ Who is the real Victim here? To all that care, In 1992 The (state)Department of Law Enforcement, The US Postal Service as well as the (local) County Sheriff's Office and the (local) Police Department raided my home and took posession of 3 video tapes that were hand delivered to me 20 minutes earlier that morning. They claimed in a search warrant that I was a child pornographer. They threatened me with a 10 year sentence in prison if I didn't talk. They handcuffed me (and took me) to jail, immediately dropped the Disributor and Videographer warrants and held me for Possession of Materials depicting the Performance of a Minor with a bail of $1000.00. My high profile Attorney called it the worst case of Entrapment in the State's history, he talked me out of a Jury Trial, had me plea no contest and Adjudication was Withheld without Guilt. Conviction without Guilt, 8 years supervised Probabtion, Therapy and no nudity... YES, No Nudity! So in 1996, I was required to Register for Life. I still don't know what the heck were on those tapes! I had ordered Videos from a well known adult catalog of legal materials. ....I have been publicly scorned, thrown out of public places, threats of violence against me, loss of emplyment, my local PD comes over and checks me out and if I'm not home, they call me... I'm in total compliance with all registrations and they have pics of my house, car and me on different LEA Websites. And for what? 3 videos. Manufactured videos, to boot, mailed to me. I just got turned down for Expungement as the wording, "Performance of a Minor or Child," denies me any hope. I'm searching for a good Civil Rights, Expungement or Sex Offender Lawyer. I have been in release since 2001, I have no prior or current record other than this. I have written letters to everyone about my loss of friends, loss of employment and the fact that the term Sex Offender has taken over my life. My career as a Filmmaker is basically over. (Thats how (the authorities) got the idea to pursue Child Pornographer charges) I have a big Documentary Film on the Festival circuits right now, but when anyone types my name into a search engine, my Sex Offender flyer comes up first, in between all my accomplishments. I need help badly, legal and otherwise. I have to ask, Who really is the Victim here

[ Contact us ]

¨Sex Offender´s¨ ordeal goes on and on

By anonymous <> Posted on 24.08.2008 Link to this story: [0025]

One more story from ¨down south¨ of the horror that just keeps on going, long after a young man comes out of prison, and as he tries to obey the rules, but can´t find housing! To respond, refer to Tale Entry 0025 and reply to me, alexm60@fastmail.fm. ----------------- In the year 2000, while my son was living with a friend of his, the friend went to a local mall and brought home 2 girls who said their ages were 18. My son did not have intercourse with the girl and both of the girls spent the night with my son and his friend. The men did not have anything else to do with the girls, who got upset and told their parents, who filed charges in May 2001. While awaiting to go before the judge for a plea agreement, they processed my son for a 2nd Child Molestation charges. My son lived with a girl and her mother earlier. The mother knew of the relationship and my son knew that she was 13 yrs old (my son was 19 yrs old). Long after the relationship ended, she wound up pregnant (not by my son). The father, who was not at home, inquired who all she had been with and she named everyone. (Point: the father of the baby is also an adult) The prosecuting attorney had the hearing continued, so that the pregnant minor/victim did not appear in front of the judge until after she gave birth. My son is now considered a sex predator, after spending time in prison. He did the time and was out on probation, and his PO harrassed him continually and visited him at this residence weekly, but in his file he had an incorrect address and they revoked his probation for failure to maintain a residence. He was found guilty and he appealed. The Appellate Court ruled in his favor and he was released. They picked him up 2 months later and again revoked his probation due to the fact that he could not find housing. Now they tell him, he has to have a verifiable address before he is released, or he will not be released. How in the world can they continue to incarcerate a person after the person has served his sentence??? I feel that they need to take a step back and really look at what is a child molester, and what about young girls who lie about their age to be with the older boys. And where were the parents of these two 13 yr old girls? What type of parent takes their children and drops them off at the mall for the day to hang out? Perhaps the parents need to protect them a lot more!

[ Contact us ]

Another Plea, Not a Bargain!

By anonymous <> Posted on 20.08.2008 Link to this story: [0024]

Still more evidence that plea bargaining is not all it´s cracked up to be! It IS possible to change such a plea ¨bargain¨ and to challenge a sentence, but it´s usually more difficult than simply going to trial and challenging the case in the first place. Contact alex marbury (alexm60@fastmail.fm) to comment, and refer to Tale Entry 0024. ----------------------------------------------------- A young family member was recently given what he and his family believe was a very harsh sentence. His attorney advised him to plead guilty in a sex offender case. He allegedly used the internet to view child pornography and he allegedly had in his possession CDs with child pornography. To my knowledge he never tried to approach in person any minor or had any personal relationship with a minor. After his plea he had to wait under house arrest almost one year to be sentenced. Even though he never committed a prior crime and he never had personal contact of any kind with a minor, he was given a 78-month sentence. But, after he completes his sentence he has to be under supervision for a number of years and he will have so many restrictions that it is hard to imagine once he comes out how he can possibly have a normal life. He made a terrible mistake. We all understand this, but his punishment seems too extreme. Could you kindly let us know if even though he pleaded guilty and gave up his right to appeal (in exchange for a lighter sentence according to his attorney) can he do something to lessen his sentence? Does he have any recourse? Can he take any action? We truly believe the judge was unjust and biased.

[ Contact us ]

Woman teacher unjustly accused

By anonymous <> Posted on 15.08.2008 Link to this story: [0023]

The woman sending this in is from the midwest. Yes, there ARE women ¨sex offenders,¨ including those falsely accused. Please note her MAJOR MISTAKE in not having legal counsel from the start!Also, in her case, a plea was also a major mistake! Respond with comments to alex marbury, alexm60@fastmail.fm. Be sure to refer specifically to the subject heading of this tale. --------------------- I was a Special Education teacher for about 23 years, teaching all kinds of students from Mentally Challenged to Learning Disabled. I was (I think) well respected because I related to my students and treated them like people. Yes, I even gave hugs to both guys and gals!!! I was accused and convicted of touching a 16 year old male special education student and flashing my breasts, supposedly in the downstairs locker room area where they have cameras. When asked on what date(s) this happened, the police said victims don't have to provide specific dates. When asked about what the video cameras showed, they told me they weren't working. When brought to the police station, I didn't ask for a lawyer because I didn't believe anything would come out of it. I was arrested for 2nd degree child molestation, forced to resign my job and was a WRECK for 4 months. I had serious thoughts of suicide but because I had a daughter and husband, did not follow thru. My lawyer told me the prosecuting attorney would charge me with a felony if I went to trial because it would "disrupt" the victim's schooling and sports. I believe now it was because the victim would have refused to testify. My lawyer said to plead guilty to child molestation(a misdemeanor). I did believing he was telling me the right thing to do, not knowing what that meant in my state .......LIFETIME REGISTRATION. I was on probation of 2 yrs, went to work at commercial sales, was a model worker (the highest commission seller in my department)and a model citizen. A local newspaper decided to do a story on where sex offenders work. Guess where they got their info? You got it....the Sex Offender Registry. When hired, employees were not given a Background Check. But after newspaper called and ALERTED them, they suspended me and two other good workers who were also sex offenders. We were then FIRED because we failed to pass the Background Check. I have really been struggling to find a decent job, one that doesn't demand a background check. I have been collecting food stamps,unemployment, and go to the food bank. The stress has been so bad that even though my husband supported me through it all, we have divorced after 27 yrs. of marriage. I am looking into moving to a state that does not have LIFETIME REGISTRATION.Can anybody give me info on that? I would like a warm climate. God Bless those who are supporting us!!!!

[ Contact us ]

¨Scalps¨ collected by political ¨predators.¨

By anonymous <> Posted on 14.08.2008 Link to this story: [0022]

A very painful account from a mother who is outraged! Send comments to me, alex marbury, alexm60@fastmail.fm As a freshman away at college, my son of 19 was arrested by a cybernet sting conducted by the State Attorney General's office together with the County Sheriff (now serving a prison term - on a different matter, alex. note). After participating in Yahoo Teen Chat (no longer supported by Yahoo due to abuse by law enforcement officials) my son was contacted days later by one of the AG's task force who misrepresented themselves as a 14 year old girl. The initial transcripts provided by Yahoo and filed with the court confirmed that the AG's office had initiated contact, but after this "error" was discovered, a "corrected" transcript was provided and accepted by the court. Entrapment by law enforcement officers is legally nearly impossible to prove, so my son accepted a plea bargain and was given five years probation for an offense against a fictitious girl conjured up by law enforcement officials who initiated internet contact with my son and entrapped him into meeting during which he was arrested at gunpoint and thrown down on the pavement. My son's photo was aired on local television stations Immediately the State AG proudly displayed his photo and personal information as an arrested predator. Here is yet another political "scalp" for an ambitious political predator who recently appeared on Bill O' Reilly's "The Factor". THIS IS JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY?

[ Contact us ]

"On Registry For fooling around at Twenty in 1985

By anonymous <> Posted on 11.08.2008 Link to this story: [0021]

One more similar comment - this from New Hampshire. I was 20 in 1985. Met a girl at a party and we fooled around. No sex! Turns out she was under age. Spent time in the county jail. Ten years later I was married with 2 kids. Was forced onto Sex offender registry in NH. In 07 I was put on the public web page, 23 years after the fact. I never went looking for a young girl. Now at age 43 I am considered an offender against children and a threat to children. My life is falling apart. I am fighting, but what law makers are listening? While they do there things (john edwards, clinton, on and on) and pass judgment on me/us.

[ Contact us ]

¨Sex offender¨ abused in prison

By anonymous <> Posted on 08.08.2008 Link to this story: [0020]

Also from New Mexico: We have a man in the penitentiary of Santa Fe who has been pushed down a flight of stairs(in the prison), walks with a cane, has no family and wonders what on earth will happen to him when he is released about a year from now. I think the treatment he has gotten is deplorable

[ Contact us ]

Everybody harmed - ¨victim,¨ ¨offender,¨parent.

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 08.08.2008 Link to this story: [0019]

ONE OF THE WORST TALES FROM THE REGISTRY A foster parent and long time teacher in New Jersey tells a horrific story of abuse by those who supposedly protect children - and of the harm caused to all the children involved, as well as to the foster parents. IF YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THIS WOMAN, PLEASE EMAIL ME, ALEX MARBURY --------------------------- I have been an elementary teacher for 33 years. I am a foster and adoptive parent including one who was a victim, one who is a convicted offender, and one who is facing charges The day before Mother\'s Day, 2004, my 6-year-old foster child told us that another foster child in the house had just "humped" him. He told us matter-of-factly, not distressed in the least. He had been bribed and allowed to play the older boy's video games while the incident took place. The offender was an extremely immature 18-year-old whose birth father had been incarcerated for sexually abusing another son. It was a delemma deciding what to do. It being a Saturday, I could not contact my (youth services) caseworker. I wasn't sure what truth lay in the claim since that child was not always truthful. Also I knew that any decision I made could have a lasting impact on both children involved. By the next day, however, after prodding the child more, I decided not to wait until Monday and instead called a youth services hotline. The conversation was contentious. The hotline worker seemed insensitive to the family delemma and spent more time quizzing me as to why I had waited a day to call. I found out only much later that that worker filed a neglect claim against me. The investigative unit substantiated the claim, using such bogus reasoning that I had left the children unsupervised (because I was in the yard putting up a swing set while they were in the house). In their brief they said I should have been more watchful of the older child because of his sexual abuse history, misleading the court and my lawyer into thinking that his history was as a perpertator rather than a possible victim. I believed they pursued me because the claim was instigated by the youth worker. My own caseworkers remained supportive, defying a recommendation that my house be closed and obtaining a waiver so that I could adopt the 3 foster children who remained with me, including the victim. The finding of neglect (which would have cost me my job as a teacher) was later reversed on appeal, though I had to surrender my foster parenting license. Just recently that prevented me from caring for children of another former foster child. As for the offender - that same day - Mother's Day - the police came to the house, interviewed him (I told him to just tell the truth), and arrested him. He has been incarcerated from that day to the present, now half-way through a 10-year sentence! Youth services, for all their claim of mission to protect their children, provide no legal assistance for children in trouble. Now another one of my former foster children is being prosecuted for an incident that may have occurred when he was 15. It is based on a claim by a female friend of the family who was 11 or 12 at the time of the incident. He has been depressed lately as he sees his life unraveling. He was to begin college in September, but now thinks he may lose his federal grant. He thinks most professions are now closed to him, including the ones he wanted to pursue. He worries he will lose his job as a security guard. He does not know how he will pay me back money he borrowed for his lawyer. Today I went on line with what I thought was an improbable task of trying to find a support group for sex offenders. I was surprised to find a site which gave voice to so many of my complaints. Thanks.

[ Contact us ]

A mother´s cry - this is so foreign to us!

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 08.08.2008 Link to this story: [0018]

This letter was written from one mother to another about her son´s agony. The pain is so great for so many people! (Alex) ---------------------------------- There are days when I don't even know where to start with all of this, then there are others where I seem to find a good deal of information. Many sex offenders must take a test in our stat called a plesmograph, (which is supposed to measure sexual arousal to stimulae, when attached to a penis). My young son and the others here face the possibility of having to take his test at any time, along with polygraphs. The results of a plesmograph are useless as researchers have found that many "normal" people would react physically when viewing erotic material as well, so what is the point? My son pled on in April, and though he is required to attend "sex offender classes" and pay $35 for them once a week, there have been no treatment providers. The ones they had before, both quit because of the way these guys are treated. So, instead, they give them a fill-in-the-blank form -- and my apologies here -- "How many times did you masturbate this week?" "How may deviant sexual fantasies have you had? Explain." The form is handed to the probation officer, and that's the extent of the class. My first reaction when I accidentally happened upon my son´s form was that (this process is just) forcing them to think about this all the time! Initially, when my son left some of these blank, they threatenedto send him to prison because he's "in denial." ! One of the others pulled him aside after class and told him he'd better start making something up to appease the powers that be. So, if one is working on concocting a story about a deviant sexual fantasy, I suppose that's closely akin to actually having one. It's all absurd.... I do know of another man here -- 29 years old or so -- who had a consensual relationship, no intercourse, when he was 15 and the girl was 13. He became a juvenile offender and had to drop out of high school in order to get a job and pay for the sex offender classes. For some reason, and I believe this was a legal error, when he became an adult, the charge was reclassified as an adult offense, and though he attended sex offender classes here for five years, he never received a certificate of completion. He is fighting to be able to see his daughter, who is now 8 or 9, I believe, but he cannot. So if we do the math, $35/week x 52 weeks x5 years = $9100, give or take, all for naught. When I spoke to the the probation officer, I was discouraged about finding my son a living situation, so I'm stumped right now. (Note -prisoners must find a living situation that is approved before they can get out, even when they are entitled to, based on their sentence - and of course, sex offenders have a very hard time finding housing anyway.) We'll see what we can figure out. He's certainly floundering here, and I still don't believe he'll ever make it through the five years still ahead of him, if he doesn't get out somehow. I really don't think he'll make it one year. You see these guys in and out of jail constantly until, finally, they send them on to prison. That's another thing that irks me -- when someone is arrested here -- not convicted, just arrested, innocent until proven guilty -- their picture, DOB, and all their charges are online on a jail roster for all to see. My son was in for six months with 16 charges sitting there, the most horrible one can get aside from murder, and though he pled only to two class C felonies and did that even after passing the polygraphs just so he could come home, some people who saw him online now harass him. He actually got "jumped," I guess I'll say, outside a friend's house last night, but was able to hold his own and get away. The guys actually told him they were going to rape him! I would consider my family to be upstanding in this community, at least middle class, maybe a bit on the upper side, with a good reputation and family history here dating back to the early 1900s. I don't think my son´s ever been in a fight before. This kind of thing is so foreign and frightening to all of us

[ Contact us ]

Counsellors make life miserable for so´s

By Anonymous in Illinois <> Posted on 05.08.2008 Link to this story: [0017]

I do not see the need for a website so that the 'public' knows where a sex offender lives. Why? Do we know where murderers and burglars live? No, we don't. My best friend has been paroled to me and it's been no picnic. He has been verbally abused by his one agent who constantly called him 'Jerry' for 'Jerry's kids'. They are set up to fail once released as (the state) wants them all locked up. My friend can't even talk to his children because they are minors. It's ridiculous. I would imagine family support would be helpful, not harmful. And what the state calls counseling? They should be ashamed of themselves. They're not here to help anyone. Their goal is to make life absolutely miserable in the hopes that you will re-offend.

[ Contact us ]

20 year old faces vicious cyle-no housing, no school

By Anonymous <> Posted on 02.08.2008 Link to this story: [0016]

This sad, but not unusual, story comes from the Western US. It seems to us that ¨plea bargains¨ are often the problem, but so are ¨mandatory sentences,¨ which take all discretion out of the hands of the judges. Alex ------------------ my 20-year-old son sat in jail for six months with 39 charges pending initially, then dropped almost immediately to 16 and stayed posted online, with his picture, for the entire six months, enough time for the entire community to see it and for some ignorant people to speculate about what a "horrible sex offender" he must be. Of course, his circumstances were ridiculous, and passing polygraphs -- more than one -- and providing all sorts of irrefutible evidence supporting his innocence was of little or no help aside from the fact that his 39/16 charges ended up as 2 C felonies (because these were two friends who thought this was "fun," and that they "make a good team." ) They offered absolutely no evidence except for the allegation. They could not get times, dates, circumstances or anything right -- the police reports and discovery were a mess on their side, so much so that when I read all 300+ pages of discovery, I was excited, because anyone with half a brain could see right through what this was. But, the attorney, probably rightly so, advised my son to take the offered five-year probationary plea in order to avoid our state´s HORRIBLE mandatory sentencing should something have gone awry at trial. He's now a felon who has to register, no end in sight. He's attempting to transfer probation to another county so he can go to school. Though he´s registered at school (they haven't asked about criminal history but the PO will likely visit the dean), we're struggling with finding housing. He must have housing in place and either a job or be enrolled in school BEFORE the PO here will begin the transfer process, which takes 45 days, hardly enough time before school starts the third week in September. He must get out of this small town. His PO just recently set an 8:00 p.m. curfew and told him the two friends he was hanging out with are now off limits because they associate with girls not yet 18. Seems like they're trying their best to trap him.

[ Contact us ]

So many harsh conditions for a fine young man

By anonymous <> Posted on 19.07.2008 Link to this story: [0015]

From an RSOL participant..... My son is now released during the week, but has to go to jail from Friday's at 6:00 p.m. to Monday's at 6:00 a.m. He was put on high risk because of not living with a girl for two years or longer and his age. He had just turned 23. He was also charged with two counts, because of being honest and telling every where he touched her and every aspect of their encounter. He cannot be around any family members or anyone else´s children under the age of 18. He is having to sell his home, that he worked so hard for because it is too close to a school. He did not get any time taken off his sentence for the 100 days he spent in jail and I have never heard of that, but I was told that (our) county does not take time served off before trial date. Some of the young men are being held for six months in (this) County before they are even being charged. They have six months to charge them and these politicians are taking advantage of that! He has to do one year of weekends and he pays $574.00 in fines and fees not including any polygraph test or alcohol or drug test on him, which he must also pay for. He also has three to five meetings a week he is required to attend.....

[ Contact us ]

Disfigured Youth Persecuted

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 14.07.2008 Link to this story: [0014]

YOUTH WITH DISFIGURED FACE UNFAIRLY TREATED An anguished mother sent this sad tale....if you respond, be sure to indicate that it was tale #14 so I can forward your email to her. Thanks. Alex. --------------------------- I want my son to have hope. He is still incarcerated at (our) County Prison. He is serving an 12 month less 1 day sentence for consensual sex with a minor. He was 19 at the time,she was 14. My son suffered from hemifacial paralysis when he was 18 months old. After 14 facial surgeries to reconstruct his eye, mouth and cheek, he suffered most of his childhood from low self esteem and never thought any girl would find him attractive. The surgeries improved his appearance and restored symmetry to his face. I thought he was very handsome, but he never saw anything but the scars. He and this girl found each other attractive and they had consensual sex. He felt so guilty, he turned himself in to police. The girl and her mother did not want to press charges, but the state did. Now he faces the public humiliation on the registry. He did take a plea bargain that sentenced him to less than one year in prison, with a year of parole afterward. We are still very green and do not have all of the information we need. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to finally express my son's story. (We will call him ¨Jerry¨ to preserve anonymity.)

Name Comment Shelley This caught my attention due to the ages mentioned and the fact that the State would not let this go. Prior to our situation, the DA was a friend of ours, which makes this such a mystery. We believe he bent over backwards to prove there was no favoritism to us, so here we are! My son passed polygraphs (more than one) regarding allegations of a vindictive 14-year-old (he was 19) who was then and is currently dating a 20-year-old purported drug dealer and talking online about sleeping with him, etc. That aside, even though my son passed the polygraphs addressing specifically her allegations word for word, he had to turn around and enter a plea of guilty so he could come home. He had been in jail for six months pending trial, but when the offer came from the Prosecutor for a five-year probationary sentence, he signed it! He was frightened, missed his family, and only wanted to come home. He is now a felony sex offender, cannot find a job anywhere in our small town (13,000), and his life seems ruined, but we do not despair. I am not promoting my agenda, but we have faith that God will direct us and show us the reason for all of this some day. Please let your son know of the countless others like him who are experiencing the same feelings about registration, but tell him as well that so many of us are working to effect some change in these laws and perhaps we will experience some victory soon. [ Contact us ]

Adult student fails class, blames prof. as rso

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 11.07.2008 Link to this story: [0013]

This painful ¨tale¨ is sent by a university teaching assistant, whose students found his name on the registry Although the statute I was convicted under (Wisconsin, convicted in 1995) will read as though I forcibly assaulted a child, in reality, I had sex with a 15 year old who told me she was 19. That's all I did. Now, I have to register every four months in Kansas (in person, at the police station, where I am frisked), and every year for the rest of my life in Wisconsin. I had hopes of getting through this, completing my PhD and becoming a professor. But last semester, A girl who failed the class I was teaching complained about me because she saw my name printed in the local newspaper, and stated that she was afraid to come talk to me. Can you believe that? I appreciate what you are trying to do, because my life is for the most part ruined because of the unnecessary stigma that has been assigned.

[ Contact us ]

Plea to save life, loses it!

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 03.07.2008 Link to this story: [0012]

This entry sent from a registered sex offender, is an important warning: Beware of so-called plea bargains, often put forth by defense lawyers, not understanding the long impact and humiliation of the sex offender registries - which are often retroactive, affecting people who pled years ago, thinking it was over. IT´S NOT OVER in America, folks. Again, BEWARE OF PLEA BARGAINS! Alex ¨Almost a decade ago, I took a plea deal in a corrupt town. I took a plea deal to save my life, but now I find I am losing it. I recently lost both my jobs, my house and am in debt. I cannot live in my old house; still available to me but the law prevents me from living there. I am homeless in a few days with no money, no food, no job, few friends who cannot provide me a place to sleep because of the laws. Parole (agents) cannot help me. All because I took a plea deal nearly a decade ago to save my life.¨

[ Contact us ]

Teens sharing cell phone pix dangerous

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 03.07.2008 Link to this story: [0011]

TEEN ATHLETE FACES HUMILIATION AND WORSE FOR CELL PHONE VIDEO TO FRIEND (This has been sent to RSOL by the boy´s father - if you want to let him know your support, send me an email and I´ll forward it!) Two teen atheletes shared 10 second videos on cellphones - For that, one now faces having to leave home, go to jail, and be placed on the internet sex offender registry for at least 10 years.... My son is in the backyard right now, sitting around a campfire with some friends. The thought of him being restricted from our house sickens me.... My son has been charged with \"Telephonic Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor\". He was an 18 year old high school senior when the charges were filed. The charges stem from a ten second cell phone video that was sent to another male high school senior who was 17 at the time (he sent the video on to others). Unfortunately, this type of behavior among high school students has become too common. My son was a well known athlete in town, and law enforcement has decided to make an example out of him in an attempt to curb such behavior. The local media coverage, propagated by local law enforcement, was incredible. The story was the lead story on all three local television stations, morning, noon, and night, for two days straight. It was devastating, and we literally put my son on a suicide watch. Now, the county attorney has proposed a deal where my son pleads guilty to the aforementioned charge, and receives a deferred judgment. My son has never had as much as a speeding ticket, and has been a good citizen. In discussions with our attorney and the judge, the county attorney has indicated that my son is not really a sex offender and the judge has indicated that he would be inclined to go along with a deferred judgment. Here\'s where the Iowa sex offender laws come into play. Although my son would have no criminal record, he would be forced to register as a sex offender for the next ten years. The county attorney thought that my son would come off of the sex offender list once he had completed the terms of the deferred judgment. He is wrong. This is a boy who has grown up in a day care (which my wife runs), who umpires youth baseball and softball, and who is very well liked in our very small hometown. He will be forced to move out of our house, and will not be allowed to visit. His college plans will be in serious jeopardy, and he will be branded and lumped in with truly dangerous criminals. Basically, his life will be destroyed, although no one in law enforcement believes that he is a threat at all. I do not believe that the intent of this law was to punish high school kids that exchange inappropriate cell phone material, but rather to protect young children from adult criminals. However, the Iowa sex offender laws are such that there is zero flexibility or room for common sense. My son’s court date is coming up. Given the extreme impact that the plea would have on his life, we have decided to try and fight the case in court. Until my son’s ordeal, I too was naïve to the injustices being caused by these ridiculous and wide ranging laws. They do not necessarily target the truly repulsive and dangerous criminals, and will result in many good people’s lives being ruined. I have two younger children, one girl and one boy. Hence, protecting children from dangerous people is a concern that I share with all parents. However, these laws are being used for entirely different reasons, with devastating consequences.

[ Contact us ]

Battered Woman put on registry

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@yahoo.com> Posted on 19.06.2008 Link to this story: [0010]

FROM A WOMAN IN FLORIDA Two days ago, my dearest friend in the world was forced to register as a sex offender. She is a single mother struggling to overcome a violently abusive relationship. Last year, she found comfort in the friendship of a young woman who helped her understand her abuse and begin the process of reaching out for professional help. One evening during the course of their brief friendship, they had sex. The encounter was entirely consensual; just two women sharing their feelings for each other in a very loving manner. Tragically, both this young woman and my friend were completely unaware of the fact that the state of Florida considered this sex act a criminal one. My friend was 35 years old and the young woman just a few months shy of her 18th birthday. Both believed the age of consent to be 16 and neither realized their age gap changed everything in the eyes of the law. In a fit of jealousy and rage, her abuser reported the relationship and my friend was promptly arrested. In the months since her arrest, my friend has been supported by the young woman and her parents; they wrote letters to the prosecution insisting they did not wish to pursue the case and did not feel my friend deserved any punishment whatsoever. The state persisted. The state prosecutor ordered my friend to submit herself to a psychosexual evaluation by a professional evaluator of the state's choosing. The results of that evaluation stated the evaluator felt my friend was sexually and psychologically healthy, had no sexual deviancies or tendencies toward children, did not pose a risk to society and did not need any sort of therapy or intervention. My friend had never had even so much as a speeding ticket, much less been in any sort of serious trouble with the law. She has no history of abuse in her own childhood, no mental health issues and no criminal record whatsoever. Immediately liked by everyone she meets, she has always been a good daughter, a loving friend, a principled employee and a highly regarded member of society. She has succeeded in her profession and has always spent her leisure time doing what she felt was most important; volunteering as a child abuse advocate, rescuing animals and spending time with her child. She is an adoring and compassionate mother with an amazing little boy. Despite all of this, the state of Florida forced her to register as a sex offender. It seems everything good she has ever done in her life is now undone. And the worst part is that, in addition to the obvious, sex offender designation is potentially going to destroy my friend's life in another, far more sinister way. She will never be able to safely avoid her abuser; a horrendous person who has, for too many years, assaulted, beaten, threatened and abused her and her child in ways I find too horrible to convey. My friend had just started the process of abuse recovery with the help of several battered women's shelter services. She enlisted in a program to help women and children hide from their abuser and had started the process of obtaining therapy for her and her child to heal from years of cruel abuse. Just a few weeks ago, she successfully obtained an injunction for protection from domestic violence for herself and her child. Her abuser's response to the restraining order? "You can't hide. You'll be on the sex offender list, I will always find you." And the state's response to that threat? Nothing. So, where there were none, the state of Florida created two victims. A battered woman and her little kid; forever at the mercy of their abuser because registered sex offenders are not afforded the privacy and protection necessary to shield them from imminent danger. They can always be found - by anyone - for any reason. What's worse, we have recently been informed that registered sex offenders are not allowed in battered women's shelters and are not eligible for the services offered by domestic violence organizations meant to protect women & children. Since she was designated a sex offender, the same people who, just days ago, were warning us that my friend and her child's life were in danger are now turning their backs. The very same people who offered her safety and shelter are now telling her she is on her own. Tonight and perhaps forever, she and her child are in danger because their abuser can (and I am certain will) find them through the registry. No one who can help us seems to care.

[ Contact us ]

Texas Teen facing long sentence

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 17.06.2008 Link to this story: [009]

Jean Ponzanelli was in court yesterday. His attorney asked the judge to reset his hearing on the writ. The attorney is asking the court to allow Jean to withrdraw his plea based on the immigration issue. The judge said he would reset the hearing for 7/2/08 as he doesn't see the writ happening. The judge also scheduled the revocation hearing for the same day. > So, looks like the judge will recommend the appellate court to deny the writ and will revoke Jean's probation and sentence him to prison on 7/2/08. Jean is looking at a 10 year prison term. > I just want someone to tell me this is really not happening in this great country of ours. The bottom line is that we are sending a kid to prison for having sex with another kid. The court will argue that he is being sent to prison for violating probation. I would argue the kid should not have been on probation in the first place since the kid should never have been arrested. Jean's probation was like purgatory. Now they are sending him to hell. > My heart truly breaks. jan

[ Contact us ]

It doesn't make sense!

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 24.05.2008 Link to this story: [007]

This terrible tale is sent anonymously from the "liberal" state of Wisconsin! Wisconsinites, unite and change these dreadful laws! IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE In late 1997 I was convicted of second degree sexual assault of a child. I was 19 years old when the consensual "offense" occured. I served 6 months jail and 3 1/2 years probation for the crime. Now 10 years later I find myself back on probation for something completely unrelated (domestic disorderly for arguing with girlfriend) and I am forced to comply with sex offender probation rules and restrictions once again because I was formerly on sex offender probation. It just doesn't make sense. I have worn this scarlet letter for ten years already. When I was sentenced I was only required to register for 15 years then they changed it to lifetime registrant. How can they legally keep changing these rules and restrictions? Why should this affect me and my family 10 years after I've been sentenced and served my time? Most recently I was notified that I am to immediatly evacuate my residence because I live to close to a "park". If by park they mean a section of grass with a sidewalk running through it and a couple benches then I guess I do. I guess they don't take into consideration that I live just as close to the police station next to the park. I have lived here for a month and have signed a one year lease.My probation officer suggested that I try to work it out with my landlord. Yeah I'm sure my landlord is going to be real understanding that the nice guy with a family that he rents to is a registered sex offender and might have to bail on the lease. I have also had to take antidepressants since shortly after the asault conviction. I still to this day have a constant fear being in public and wondering "who knows?". At least a convicted murderer gets the luxury of knowing when their sentence will end.

[ Contact us ]

Teenager Ponzanelli in Texas

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 18.05.2008 Link to this story: [006]

This entry is sent in about the teenager in Texas, Jean Ponzanelli, who is mentioned in a media item on rsol this week, too. The mother of a young woman who is Jean´s highschool friend sends futher information about this typically terrible tale. Jean himself had lived almost all his life in Texas and didn´t really understand that he was not a ¨citizen,¨ just a ¨legal alien.¨ His lawyer didn´t know that either when he suggested the ¨plea bargain.¨ Now, Jean is trying to withdraw the plea, because no matter how it goes otherwise, he will be deported. This battle seems hopeless at times and I've only been in the fight for 3 months. I believe getting these stories out there and opening the eyes of the public is the only way to bring about a change in these laws. Jean Ponzanelli is so creative. He draws, plays guitar, drums, he writes music, he is extremely gifted. He is also an avid skateboarder. Skateboarding was at one time the most important thing to him. He recently told me that for the first time in his life he cares for something more than skateboarding. He cares for his life that is at stake. He is in Williamson County jail for now. He is being treated for depression and insomnia. I can not imagine what these boys (mostly) go through. Thanks again, Round Rock, Texas

[ Contact us ]

RSOs Can´t flip hamburgers in Ga

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 17.05.2008 Link to this story: [005]

the laws need to be changed! In Georgia, people are condemned to a life of nothing. you cant even get a job flipping a hambureger for gods sakes. what do you do, your life is condemned anyway? my husband´s case is not what the laws say. a judge in our county made sure of that. there were 8 cases in that county in that year and everyone of them were guilty even if they didnt do it. some of them were guilty of the crime, (some not guilty) and they got not what they deserved but what the judge said they did. you cant judge; you cant fight what he says, not even to the supreme court, and justice is supposed to work for everyone. you tell me - what about the people that are small and cant afford to fight. thank you for the address of the Georgia chapter. i will never give up. god help me!

[ Contact us ]

Children, victims of father´s perceived crimes

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 16.05.2008 Link to this story: [004]

This ¨Tale¨ is chosen because the wife´s description of her husband and herself are both honest and compelling. They show how very good people have their lives ruined - and nobody is protected, everybody loses, including the children, and including society! The names and the state have been omitted to keep the anonymity of the persons involved. a.m. From the wife of a sex offender ¨out west.¨ I have chosen to sign because I have watch the change in laws slowly destroy my husband. I don’t clam his innocent or his guilt as that was decided years ago when he took the plea agreement. I have found that claming his innocence, which I believe in, only makes my statement seem biased and defensive. His innocence or guilt doesn’t really matter anyways. The person he is matters! His criminal history only has two marks - The 13 year old conviction that made him a Sex Offender (lewdness w/ a minor under 14, His accuser was 13) and a 9 year old conviction for failure to register. The failure to register was simply a forgotten thing and he spent a 3 day weekend in jail to which the judge after hearing his side took his guilty plea and gave him time served. Thank God for small favors and a touch of understanding. But back to the man he is. ¨Gordon¨ (name changed) is one of the strong people I know; his soul, his heart, and his mind have survived so much and he has not lost his love of life, the ability to laugh at himself, or his ability to love and honor his friends and family. He has a grandeur of manner, and magnanimity of personality. He is spontaneously creative, outgoing, warm hearted and plain spoken; as well as ambitious, courageous, strong willed, independent, and self-confident. In his relations with others he is open, sincere, genuine and trusting. He is a wonderful father to our living children. He is also a father who is grieving; grieving for his beloved children who were born into heaven, grieving for the plans that will never take place. He morns the lives that will never be lived and the sons that he will never know. Sometimes he can be one of the most unpleasant human beings imaginable, displaying autocratic pride, and an excessive temper; becoming self-centered, boastful, pompous, and overbearing. But that is part of his Leoness. Besides I can be ten times worse than him, as I am sure everyone else can too. He was a tier 2 in our state by 6 points. These ¨points¨I believe are unfair because on the form you get 6 points for both refusing counseling or not needing it. He never refused it, just didn’t need it. Next year we would have been allowed to ask for a review of his rating and hearing to possibly reduce it. A new law has passed and as of July 1st 2008 he will be considered a tier 3 and we have no way to ask for that review hearing. He is also now under a life time commitment to register publicy. It has been hard enough for him to find work, now we feel it will be impossible. Who he is doesn’t matter. Almost 15 years and no reoffence or anything but a simple mistake with registration. He works, pays taxes, and for the first time in years (10 years) got to vote in 2004. He loves his children but avoids the close relationship with our daughter he has with our son. For the first 3 months of her life ha was scared to even hold her, when someone started to use CPS to harass him it got worse. He has never given her a bath and doesn’t like to help her get dressed. He doesn’t like going to the park even as we live in a small town and he fear what someone might think or say about him with his children. So I fully agree with the statement and wish my husband could sign it as well. I hope the laws change because I feel the unfairness that is pushed on my family shouldn’t be suffered by anyone, let alone the children like mine who are becoming victims of the perceived crimes of their father.

[ Contact us ]

Innocent Man Exonerated!

By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 16.05.2008 Link to this story: [003]

A Tale of Eventual Justice, sent in by an RSOL participant from Oregon! Without money, forget justice! Never take a plea bargain if you are innocent! They are NEVER bargains! Wrongfully accused and indicted and ultimately had charges dropped. A vindictive ex partner in business planted cd\'s that contained CP on them in a loaner car I used for two days. I was indicted by a politically motivated prosecutor (who is now a judge) and my life ruined as a result. Being accused makes you guilty and being exonerated means you had a good attorney who \"got you off\" I went from making 16,500 a month to 5,000 a month, I lost the life that I had spent a lifetime working towards. The financial stress it created caused me to lose my wife who had stood by me for the 3 1/2 years it took to finally get this case to trial. The charges were dropped by the new prosecutor who took the case after the first one had been elected judge. She said they had no evidence and no witnesses making getting a conviction extrmely problematic. Before they dropped the charges but after they knew that I wasn't guilty they tried to get me to plead to something ...anything ...no jail time no fine as long as whatever I plead to forced me to become a registered sex offender- socieities biggest pariah! (Thank goodness this person refused!) This will be the hardest fight we will ever face. It is almost impossible to get a politician to appear to be soft on crime and especially soft on sex crimes ...and especially ones involving minors.

[ Contact us ]

Summer Camp Fling a Nightmare For Teen

By The Parents <> Posted on 15.04.2008 Link to this story: [002]

Try to imagine, you're 17, a junior in high school on summer vacation. You're unusually tall and still a bit awkward with girls. At a local resort you meet a girl vacationing with her parents, she is beautiful and she actually likes you. After a few days she invites you to her cabin while her parents are away. With heart pounding nervousness, you're both kissing and touching each other. A phone rings, you're interrupted and this ends the encounter. Seems so innocent, maybe a preview to an after school special. Now imagine, two days later you are arrested for a violent rape. You tell the police everything you know about the beautiful girl you'd met, you tell them about the kissing, the touching and you swear to God that you never had intercourse. You're given a Public Defender who tells you the rape tests support the girls claim and that he has worked his magic and convinced the DA to entertain a plea of "lewd and lascivious acts" , it's "less than rape" and he also worked a miracle to keep it in Juvenile Court. Yes, this Public Defender saved your life and you should be forever in his debt, right? The plea is accepted and he is formally charged with PC 280 (a), Lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14". Yes, in court we all learned this beautiful girl, fully developed and far more mature he, is only 13. The touching and kissing is a felony, child molestation, a registerable offence, a life long sentence. Mandatory minimums sends this young boy to the California Youth Authority for a three year term. He is to attend a sex offender treatment program and he is to be housed with all the other sex offenders. During his first two weeks he is beaten severely, given the nick name "Chester" by the cruel and extremely corrupt guards. He is bunked next to a 19 year old who has been in the system for most of his life. His latest crime was the rape and vicious beating of a three year old. This boy entered the CYA a normal red blooded teenager, a varsity basketball and football player, some minor scrapes with local police, but nothing serious. He is now an angry 25 year old man, full of hate and resentment. He is a registered child molester and is required to report in every time he moves and 10 days before his birthday each year. His birthday is early January, which makes the holidays particularly bad. If pulled over by any law enforcement he is required to show his RSO card, this leads to ridicule by the officer and the complete devastation of any friend he may have with him. This is a true story and if you don't think it could happen to you or your son, you need to open your eyes and look at the thousands of young boys in California who are living the same nightmare. I am of the belief that nothing will be done to change the over zealous sex offender laws in California until this happens to a Senators son, maybe Arnolds son. There is not one politician who will to step up and point out that the current SO Laws are destroying the lives of thousands of young boys. Behind closed doors they all sympathies with my son's story and wish me luck in my endeavor to change the law, but not one of them will help write a bill to just tweak the current legislation, to add in some common sense. It's political suicide to show compassion for a RSO, or to be seen as soft on crime. Postscript: I thought you'd be interested in the circumstances that lead to the accusation of rape. The girl was terrified of the punishment in store for her so she said "I didn't invite him, he just came over and started kissing me". That snowballed into a violent rape story. She was rushed to the hospital, given a rape exam and released. We had asked to look at the results of the rape test, but the miraculas Public Defender told us that because it was a Juvenile case we were not "privy" to those records. After nearly a year in CYA he was examined by a Dr. Data to determine what type of SO treatment program was needed to meet the court requirement. Dr. Data believed our son and he requested the entire court folder, including rape test results. As it turned out, the girl was a virgin, she had not been raped and in fact while being interviewed by a nurse she admitted the contact had been consensual. Dr. Data wrote a letter to the Youthful Defender Parole Board and requested that our son be released based on the lies the DA and the Public Defender had been guilty of. This was denied because it was a plea and because he had admitted to kissing and touching her.....A FELONY. Dr. Data did succeed in removing him from any sex offender treatment program and allowing him to be moved to a non sex offender unit. This did not stop the abuse and the nick name "Chester". The registration requirement would stay as well. During our son's three years in CYA the girl gave birth to a child (maybe two) fathered by a boy the same age as our son. He was never charged.

[ Contact us ]

Son to Governor Crist: Please Let My Father Out Of Jail!

By Christopher William P. <unknown> Posted on 20.02.2008 Link to this story: [001]

A letter sent by the 15 year old son of a registered sex offender to the Governor of Florida: Dear Governor Crist: I'd like to tell you a story; a story of a family composed of two sons, 9 and 5, and a mother, with a potentially fatal heart condition. For three long years, on every Saturday, this family visited Bill Pratt, a sex offender, in jail for an hour. It was a long trek to the jail, and almost every time we went, we were harassed by the guards. "Your not allowed to wear chachi pants," or "Stamp with your left hand not your right!" said the guards, as we were shoved in the the small, tight, and loud maximum security room, with armed guards at every few meters. Every week we would drive an hour there and an hour back in the cold New Jersey night, and if we were minutes late, then too bad, the guards didn't care; they didn't care that we were two innocent kids and a single mom, working two jobs who had more then enough stress for five people combined. But they didn't care, and treated us so. Finally, after those long, strenuous years of legalized harassment and hours of crying in dark corners, his day had come, my dad was being let free. By that time, we had already moved to Florida. He jumped into his car, and drove down to Florida. Now it's expected that we lived happily every after as a good happy family, right? Well it has kind of turned out a bit differently then expected. Over the years after my father´s emancipation, I as an individual, as well as my mother, and especially my brother, because everyone knows kids can be real bastards, have faced ridicule, outcast, and have been denied friends and opportunities because my dad's a sex offender. Our entire family, me included, has had multiple mental breakdowns, where we have had serious problems such as overeating, heart related chest pains, and failing every subject in school along with being late every day. Along with that, my mother's stress is still through the roof, what with having to still work two jobs and overtime just to keep us out of debt, and the fact that my dad can't keep a job for more then a few months. All he can find work at is construction companies paying little above the minimum wage because he is a sex offender. Keep in mind that this man has a masters degree in business, and was one of the top managers at Lockeed Martin at the time. I am now 15, enduring worsening hardship with each passing year. I thought by now, as with all other ex-felon families, that all of this would be behind us and I could enjoy life as a normal teenager. But, my father was arrested while going to work because the police thought that he had not registered a temporary address. He was in fact registered at our home, but the police wouldn't listen. So to keep him out of jail for even more undeserved years in that overcrowded hellhole, my mother had to use the families last $2000 to bail him out of jail and we are still paying for the attorney, to keep him out of prison. And now, when things were starting to look up, what happens? 5 days before Christmas, he is arrested again while going to work, because of a suspiciously deliberate administrative screw up by the state of New Jersey and they are threatening to extradite him back to New Jersey, when they new all along my father was legally registered as a resident of Florida (for the past 3-1/2 years). This means many things for my family. My mother will - almost guaranteed - die because of her heart condition, my brother will fail 6th grade, and we will probably never see my father again. He will miss my mother´s passing away, my brothers´ and my first girlfriends, our highschool graduation, our college graduation, and maybe even our marriages. I'm sure the father's of our Constitution (yes, I am an honor student, learning about this not-so great country) could not have envisioned the laws of today. Yet, please, uphold what they set forth, and understand that my mother, brother and I have lost our civil rights to privacy, because of the out of control sex offender laws. Governor, please do not allow my brother, mother and I to continue as collateral victims to a crime of my father's that was long ago and which he already paid for. We want and need him back in our life. Please, we have suffered so much already and you are the only one who can help us!! Please let my father out of jail- he didn't do anything, but go to work. We can't bear being without him again. He is all we have- we have no other family (no grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) and have passed too many holidays alone. Thank you for your time and I hope, clemency, for my father. We need him back!! Christopher William P. (for privacy sake- if there is such a thing in my life?)

[ Contact us ]