Maffei: Change U.S. probation laws that failed to stop accused murderer David Renz

7-9-2013 Washington DC:

Washington - U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei today plans to unveil three legislative proposals to address flaws in the federal probation system that he says were exploited by accused murderer David Renz.

Maffei, D-DeWitt, acting on a report he requested from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, said he is drafting legislation that will:

---Make it a federal crime, possibly a felony, for someone on probation to tamper with an electronic monitoring device.

---Establish an independent watchdog such as an inspector general to oversee all federal probation offices.

---Establish a nationwide standard for federal probation offices when it comes to responding to alerts of tampering with monitoring devices.

Renz, 29, of Cicero, is accused of murdering Liverpool school librarian Lori Bresnahan, 47, and sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl on March 14. Authorities say Renz forced the two into a car in the parking lot of Great Northern Mall in Clay after he disabled an electronic monitoring bracelet attached to his ankle by federal probation officers.

It was one of at least 46 times probation officers did not investigate alerts indicating Renz had tampered with the monitoring device while awaiting trial on a federal child pornography charge, according to federal officials.

"What happened to the young child and Ms. Bresnahan is a terrible tragedy," Maffei said in a statement, explaining that he hopes his legislation will close loopholes in the probation system. "We need to make sure it never happens again."

Maffei will discuss details of his plan at a news conference this morning at the Federal Building in Syracuse. He will be joined by elected officials, including Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, D-Syracuse, who asked Maffei to take legislative action addressing issues exposed by the Renz case.

"The events that led up to the brutal slaying of Lori Bresnahan and the assault of (the child) were completely preventable," Magnarelli said in a statement Monday. "That is what makes this crime so tragic. Something like this must never happen again."

The New York State Senate passed legislation last month that would make tampering with an electronic monitoring bracelet a felony under state law. The legislation, proposed by State Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Oswegatchie, stalled in the state Assembly. ..continued.. by Mark Weiner