8-3-2012 Oklahoma:
There's a fear thousands of sex offenders could drop off the Oklahoma registry and go unchecked.
Some have been convicted of rape and child molestation, but want the state Supreme Court to give them a fresh start.
Right now the state Supreme Court is looking at two specific cases and whatever the high court decides will set a precedent for all level three sex offenders statewide, including one local man whose daughter is pushing the court to look at individuals on a case by case basis.
Rodger Dale Stevens molested his daughter, Elizabeth Reece, for years. He served four years in prison and six years of probation. Now he wants off the statewide sex offenders registry.
"I think he's registered under a P.O. Box right now which gives you no indication where he lives and that's disturbing," Reece said.
Stevens' lawyer, David Slane, defends hundreds of accused sex offenders.
"He's representing more than 400 sex offenders, from what I know, off the list. Not just indecent exposure like he markets, there is second-degree rape," Reece said.
Reece says Slane is profiting from her misfortune.
"I'm not making any money off of anybody's demise. I'm a lawyer. People pay me to do my job and my job is a legal process. [Reece] could also say that the police are making a living off of crime," Slane responded.
Now their debate will be settled by the high court. Reece is encouraging people to write their legislator to perhaps influence the court's decision. No word on when the ruling will come down, but it will affect thousands of people either way.
Right now the state supreme court is looking at two specific cases.
Read more about Christopher Luster appeal information.
Read more about James Starkey appeal information. ..Source.. by Havonnah Johnson
August 3, 2012
Supreme Court Decision Could Knock Thousands Of Sex Offenders Off Oklahoma Registry
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I do not condone child abuse or any other type of sexual misbehavior. However, unbiased studies have shown that sexual offenders are the least likely of all offenders to recidivate. (Drunk drivers are the most likely, but there is no lifetime registry for them). Offenders whose name, address, etc. appear on internet websites are frequently the targets of wanna-be vigilantes and have been assaulted and murdered long after their sentences are served. Finally, with all the stranger-danger madness currently in vogue, there are tens of thousands of people on the registry, requiring police to expend manpower better used elsewhere. In order to truly protect our children, we need to stop creating an underclass of people who can not find work, can not find housing, can not go to the library, beach, etc., and who are punished in perpetuity. The victim quoted in the article states it is disturbing that the offender has registered at a PO Box. Why? Does she want to pay him a visit? Likewise, the notion that Mr. Slane is exploiting her or her self imposed ongoing victimhood is ridiculous. I hope the State Supreme Court takes a dim view of such nonsense and allows Mr. Stevens to move on with his life after 10 years incarceration and supervision.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they are going to ever rule. Oklahoma is a state that does what it wants when it wants and how it wants. they may never rule on it. It is too politically charged and they are all about politics in that state. If you took the cases and changed the fact that they are sex offenders and made them drug dealers or drunk drivers these laws wouldnt be upheld. it would be expot facto, double jepordy. it doesnt matter what the person did in the past they made a bad mistake and extending the time they have to register is against the constitution of the united states of america. win or lose the case will have to be decided by the us supreme court. in the next 15 years there will be no registery
ReplyDeleteStarkey will be heard 1/8/2013. This case will decide if it is constitutional to lenghen the time an ex-offender has to register for. Before 2007 it was 10 years. After AWA passage it went to a tiered system. 15, 25, lifetime. There are people that deserve to be lifetime but you cannot add time to a person that has already been sentenced and served thier time.
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