MEGAN'S LAW LOOPHOLE....UPDATE....

For the last several months, I've been working with Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier's office to get a law created that makes it so sex offenders have to register if they're convicted, released on bail and awaiting sentencing for their crime.

After months of combing through Megan's Law with the California Attorney General's office, I received a call from Lucas Frerichs with DeSaulnier's office in Sacramento. He told me that they've researched this high and low, and both them and the Attorney General's office say this is something that's already written into Megan's Law, but isn't being enforced.

According to the Megan's Law website, when a sex offender is convicted, he or she normally goes directly to jail, prison or a mental hospital, and they have to register once they're released from custody. In the case of Roger Deaver, that wasn't what happened. Deaver made a deal with the Alameda County DA. The deal said he would plead guilty, and go home until he was sentenced a few months later. Well, all that time, the people in the neighborhood were living near a convicted sex offender and they didn't even know it because he wasn't forced to register. This rarely happens, but when it does, the consequences could be tragic.

So that's why I was motivated to do something about this, and try to change things a little. Both MD's and the AG's office have spent hours researching this, and they both agree that this is an enforcement issue and something that's already written into Megan's Law. Once convicted, if a sex offender is out on bail awaiting sentencing, judges need to make them register.

Lucas Frerichs told me today that they're working with Jerry Brown's office to make sure this doesn't happen in the future, and another man like Deaver isn't out, living close to an elementary school, around kids and lurking in the shadows.

I was happy to hear from DeSaulnier's office, and happy with the response I got. I wasn't trying to make a law just to "make a law", I was trying to change things, and make people aware of this issue. I know Jerry Brown, his office and the office of Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier are taking this seriously, and I'll follow up with them to see how things are going. Of course, if a case like Roger Deaver's ever happens again, you better believe I'll be making sure that the judge enforces this issue, and makes the scumball register before he leaves the courthouse!

Thanks to Lucas Frerichs, Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier and the rest of his office, as well as Attorney General Jerry Brown and his office for taking my request seriously. If we can't keep these losers off the streets, then knowing where they live and who to watch out for is the next best thing.

For all the background of this story, click HERE. (start from the bottom).