People as Toxic Waste
As somewhat of a follow-up to my piece on the convicted rapist who was seeing his newborn child taken from him because of his prior sex offense, I bring you at piece from the Indy Star today: Sex offender lives at Halloween house.
The story covers the controversy in Seymour, Indiana over the “Coffins Haunted House” operated by Becky Cooley. The house is open to kids, but requires an adult to accompany any minor. The problem is that Mrs. Cooley’s husband is Ronald P. Cooley, who, although he is off probation, out of jail, and properly registered with the state and local officials, was convicted of child molesting in 1995.
The prospect of having business that attracts kids involve a convicted child molester does not sit well with locals:
Dennis Carmichael from the Jackson County office of the Indiana Department of Child Services said the Cooleys should rethink their decision to operate the attraction if for no other reason than Ronald Cooley’s own protection.”Even if he’s turned his life around, he’s got to be a model citizen and not put himself in the position of being accused of touching someone inappropriately”“We’ve checked things out, and it appears he’s doing nothing illegal,” Jackson County Sheriff Jerry Hounshel said this week. “That doesn’t necessarily make it right.” Hounshel said the situation is a sign that child molesting laws need tightening. He suggested that a change in the law to prohibit registered sex offenders from working or living near businesses that cater to children would make sense.Prosecutor Stephen Pierson agreed. “It would be better public policy if they (convicted sex offenders) were prohibited or would at least have to notify people that someone at least living at such a property is a registered sex offender,” Pierson said.
Will there ever be a time and a place where the community will feel comfortable having Mr. Cooley around? I do not think so. The crime creates a life-long stain, and from the comments quoted above, I do not think we are done imposing restrictions and limits on sex offenders in this society.
We already have cases where towns and communities have outright banned sex offenders, and while there are bound to be legal challenges to such bans, the sentiment behind the bans is prevalent in our society.
