- PANDEMIC - Pedos & Child Porn in the News - Equal Parenting-BC

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How safe are your children from sex offenders?
USA - Elizabethton Star, TN - March 27, 2005
By Abby Morris-Frye, amorris@starhq.com
http://www.starhq.com/html/localnews/0305/032705sexualoffenders.htm
Over the course of the last month, many parents have become increasingly concerned with the safety of their
children after reports of a 9-year-old girl who was abducted from her home in Florida by a convicted sex offender
who was living in her family's neighborhood.
John Evander Couey, a 46-year-old convicted sexual offender in the state of Florida has since been charged with the
abduction and murder of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. According to reports from Florida law enforcement
authorities, Couey admitted to police that he had abducted and killed Lunsford and told police where to find her
body where he had buried it behind the home of his sister where he was living at the time. His sister's home is
located approximately 150 yards from the Lunsford's home in Homosassa, Fla.
As in the state of Florida, convicted sexual offenders in the state of Tennessee are required to register with law
enforcement agencies. Here in Carter County, 43 individuals are currently listed as sexual offenders whom are
required to register with the state.
According to local law enforcement officers, previously sexual offenders were required to register directly with the
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation but in the last year, a new law was passed through the Tennessee State
Legislature that changed the registration process
Now, sexual offenders who are not currently serving probation or parole are required to report to the law
enforcement office whose jurisdiction they live in. Residents of the City of Elizabethton who live in the city are
required by the state law to register with the Elizabethton Police Department. Residents of Carter County who live
outside the city limits of Elizabethton are required to register with the Carter County Sheriff's Department. Those
individuals who are currently serving probation or parole are required to register with their probation or parole
officer through the state Board of Probation and Parole.
According to Carter County Sheriff's Department Investigator Johnny Blankenship, who oversees the registration
for the CCSD, there are currently 25 registered sexual offenders who must report to the CCSD. Sgt. Elonza Perkins
who oversees sexual offender registration for the Elizabethton Police Department stated that there are currently four
sexual offenders registered through the EPD. There are currently 14 Carter County residents who are registered as
sexual offenders through the state Board of Probation and Parole (BPP) according to Jack Elder, and official with
the BPP.
With sexual offenders living within the community, local law enforcement officials have offered some tips so that
parents can help protect their children from sexual predators.
"Anybody that is acting suspicious around kids I would most definitely recommend that the parent or guardian be
very alert and notify law enforcement," said Carter County Sheriff John Henson, adding that parents should be alert
"especially in the summer at the day cares and recreation areas where kids play because that is where most of these
sexual predators like to find a victim or attack them."
Henson stated that at parks and playgrounds parents should watch for people who frequent those locations where
children often play but never bring any children with them. He said that parents should also watch for strangers
attempting speak to the children or strangers who are acting suspiciously. "They (sexual predators) are really easy to
spot if you look carefully," he said.
Elizabethton Police Department Chief Roger Deal echoed Henson's advice. He recommended that anyone observing
a suspicious person around children contact their local law enforcement agency. "Eyeball them and get a good
description," he said. "Get a good description of their car and try to get the tag numbers."
CONFIDENTIAL ---- Pandemic - Pedo & CP Report – April 17, 2005 - page 43 of 216