Should the state be able to stack sex offenders in the same motel? Here's the script to our story.
A 17 NEWS INVESTIGATION:
TWO YEARS AGO, CALIFORNIA VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED JESSICA'S LAW.
IT PLACES RESTRICTIONS ON WHERE REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS CAN LIVE.
BUT THE LAW MAY BE HAVING A NASTY SIDE-EFFECT.
WITH MUCH OF THE COMMUNITY OFF-LIMITS, THE PAROLE DEPARTMENT HAS TURNED TO STACKING THE OFFENDERS IN CHEAP BAKERSFIELD MOTELS, OFTEN TO THE SURPRISE OF THE MOTEL'S NEIGHBORS.
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[CG :AAA NameTitle 1 Line\Molester Motel\20 Offenders Living In Same Place]
THE BAKERSFIELD LODGE ON UNION AVENUE WAS A WELCOME REST TO WEARY DRIVERS DECADES AGO.
TODAY, IT HAS BECOME A HAVEN OF A DIFFERENT VARIETY.
[CG :AAA NameTitle 1 Line\Leticia Chavez\Lives Near Lodge]
That's ridiculous. Something needs to be done. There are too many there. There are too many kids in our neighborhood. {quick}
20 REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS NOW CALL THIS MOTEL HOME, AFTER THE PAROLE DEPARTMENT PLACED THEM HERE IN ABOUT HALF OF THE ROOMS.
This is a list of 20 registered sex offenders living in that motel.
Oh, is that right?
Yeah, at the Bakersfield Hotel.
Did you know that?
[CG :AAA NameTitle 1 Line\Alex Gomes\Lives Near Motel]
No. I had no idea.
OFFENDERS LIKE CHRIS DELCAMBRE, CONVICTED OF LEWD AND LACIVIOUS ACTS WITH A CHILD UNDER 14 AND INDECENT EXPOSURE.
THE HOTEL SITS RIGHT NEXT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS, THAT COME SEPTEMBER WILL BE PACKED WITH KIDS.
RESIDENTS SAY THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEHIND THE MOTEL IS ALREADY THAT WAY EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL.
[CG :AAA NameTitle 1 Line\Aaron Byrum\Lives Near Motel]
That's not right, I mean, like I mean I do have a 3-year old. As a matter of fact, yeah, I know that guy. I mean, I don't know him, but I've seen him.
MOST OF THE OFFENDERS LIVING HERE ARE CHILD MOLESTERS IN THE HIGH RISK CATEGORY...DEEMED SO RISKY BY THE STATE THAT MOST ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A GPS ANKLE BRACELET TO TRACK THEIR EVERY MOVE.
[CG :AAA NameTitle 1 Line\John Bailey\Parole District Administrator]
You can't put them in a whole lot of places, our options are very limited.
JOHN BAILEY IS DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE PAROLE DEPARTMENT.
We try to find an area that is more of a commercial, industrial-type area, and we think that would be better and more received by the community. Do you think the Bakersfield Lodge fits into that category? I think so.
RESIDENTS DON'T.
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE SHEER NUMBER.
I know, we see quite often on the news, where to place them. But if they don't want to be discriminated against, they shouldn't commit the crime in the first place.
CALIFORNIA VOTERS PASSED JESSICA'S LAW IN 2006, THAT REQUIRES HIGH-RISK OFFENDERS TO BE TRACKED WITH GPS AND PREVENTS THEM FROM LIVING WITH 2000 FEET OF A SCHOOL OR PARK.
{BUTT}I have three other residential complexes that I am working on right now. I just don't want to put these... I want to keep control of the population, and so I don't want to just put them here there everywhere...I want them so that my agents know where they are.
SO WE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE OFFENDERS THINK ABOUT THEIR LIVING SITUATION.
WE KNOCKED ON DOOR AFTER DOOR.
Nats
AT SOME THERE WAS NO ANSWER.
Nats
AND AT TWO OF THE ROOMS, WE RECEIVED THIS RECEPTION.
Nats
THEN, WE WALKED UP TO ALFRED COLEMAN, CONVICTED OF A SEX CRIME TWENTY YEARS AGO.
I was in that category before. I was in that category, but I am not anymore.
