The bus stop for kids going to school is front yard of sex offender

[The Straight Story]

Across the street from me lives a sex offender. Give ya details in a sec on that. What disturbs me is that the bus stops there to pick up the kids for elementary school.

I live across from a court, the house across the street is one of many memories for me, and as noted is now a bus stop.

I have known the family there my whole life, and when this offender was born I was going to the same school these kids are now going to. He was busted for having sex with his brother's 13 yr old daughter. His dad died 2 years ago (he did not go to funeral as he was in jail) and his mom earlier this year (he did not go to hers as he was in prison again for violating conditions of his parole concerning being around young girls). BTW he is 28, was 26 at time of offense.

I have known him and his family for about 40 years. His brother, my age, lives down the street from us. Two doors down in the court is another guy I have known my whole life who is a crack/pot/etc dealer. Two doors down from my house is another friend who is a convicted killer, general asshole to most (except me and my dad who lives next door).

Out of the three people I see it like this:
1. The killer I know (who has dealt drugs, counterfeited, et al) hasn't done anything to young kids (directly). He has also kept the 'hood clean of some rather iffy folks. As an aside, he killed the guy who killed his brother (after he burned the guy's house down). Did six years for it and does not want to go back (though I think he will sooner than later). His kids play with my daughter, as they are basically out of the house dawn to dusk. They love to come here and have fun.

2. The crack dealer I am dealing with (in fact, I am fixing his computer this weekend) via means I cannot go into here. Being an X cop I have a lot of friends in the force who can help fix that issue.
This guy is loser central. His little kids roam the streets in diapers, while the older ones (4,6,8) push the new baby about in a stroller. He likes my family a lot and gives us no trouble, in fact of all the people here he comes to me when he needs something. His kids like coming to my house and playing, and we have watched them off and on. Not their fault things are fucked up at home.

3. The molester. He did his time, and has kids he sees off and on. While the other two have had their issues, neither like him as he cannot keep away from younger girls (hence his parole violation) and both don't want their kids near him. While they rationalize their deeds (ie, deal drugs to make more money or kill some SOB who killed your brother) they cannot see his acts in the same light. And maybe I cannot either.

We have only about 100 homes here, cut off by 2 freeways and a creek. We have some oddballs (the folks three doors down on other side - well 2 kids died {aids for one, heart attack the other, a body builder} one is doing well, and the other OD'd on something wanders the streets in a daze mostly) but we also have the cool folks. We all know each other for the most part (and the stories I could tell...) and get along - but when it comes to someone molesting a kid we get a little testy.

--- I guess it is all interesting. Who is the worst, the killer, the dealer, or the molester?

I know the kids would be fine waiting on the bus at the dealer's house, his aim is money. The killer, also a dealer off and on, sees kids as off limits (and funny thing is, he came down to my house one day to tell me how cool my dad was. My dad used to yell at him and his brothers for racing up and down the street, and now he sees why - kids could get hurt). But the molester - he sees young girls as something he can use to get himself off.

So if I had to help nail one of the three (and I could all three, too many details to post here) I would choose the molester/rapist. In the end though, I think all 3 will be best - though I fear for what may happen to their young kids.

I guess I am asking, in a general way with the scant details I have given - which do you see as the biggest issue, and would you report to someone if a school bus stop was in front of a convicted sec offenders house (and I mean it literally, they stand on his front lawn awaiting the bus)?

[wake.up.america]

1. Yes, I would report him. Why put the kids at high risk?

[The Straight Story]

4. Well no need to report him per se

But I amazed that while sex offenders cannot live close to a school district they can have their front yards as a bus stop.

[wake.up.america]

9. Help me out here. How could one change the location of the bus stop...

without presenting a valid reason?

Also, kids can get on and off the bus at a different location, but would still be in the general area of the fellow.

I don't see the bus stop as being the problem, but rather that the parents are not aware of his background.

I have three small children and I AM concerned.

[Warpy]

2. If the guy wants to reoffend, moving the bus stop won't do any good

because he can walk down the street to the new stop or to a mall or to anyplace pubescent girls hang out.

I'd get to know the guy a little, pick his brains, find out if he's in therapy. I generally think the molesters who are registered are the ones who are trying to overcome the problem and trying to stay straight and out of the can.

I'd be much more concerned about the guys you don't know, the ones who cruise around town looking for little girls (or boys) waiting alone for the bus or riding their bikes or hanging out alone in the park. Those are the most dangerous strangers. I'd also be a lot more concerned with the completely normal pillar of the church, scout leader, stepfather who is the "norm" for child molesters, since most aren't strangers but are family members.

In any case, it might be a great idea for parents in the area to take turns waiting with the kids. Let Charlie Molester know that they're onto him and will be there to protect the kids. He also knows if anything happens to a kid in that town, he's going to be hauled in for questioning and another DNA swab.

[Occulus]

3. .

:popcorn:

[WhiteTara]

5. call the school immediately

talk with the principal and make them move the bus stop. It is not difficult. I had it done because the kids were destroying my landscaping at my company. It was not a problem. You should call Monday morning. Don't delay.

[Mnemosyne]

6. A person that preys on children is by far the worst.

My best friend's ex-partner just went to jail Thursday for sexually assaulting a 17 yo young man that he was supposed to be counseling through a mental health center. This guy cannot leave any young man alone if there is any chance he thinks he can have sex with them. Not really young children, that I know of, but 15 and up seems to be his preference. Even worse this kid is having a problem dealing with realizing he is gay and suffers terrible depression over it, that's why he sought counseling.

He actually dared to claim the kid was inconsistent in his testimony! Who wouldn't be after such a trauma?! This moron actually tells people he thinks his one son "is hot and if he weren't his father"... I think he adds the "if I weren't his father" as a way to convince himself that people would believe he would never touch his own sons. We think he may have long ago based on how they act toward him now. How sick even saying your kid turns you on, much less trying to add such bullshit into his words thinking he can manipulate what others think of him after the first crap coming from his mouth!

If the predator is going after kids again, nail his ass to the wall! It is something I don't ever believe he can stop without being removed from temptation. School kids in the front yard is definite temptation and he will more than likely molest again. Defective units.

The crackhead will crash and burn sooner or later, but if his children are in danger, nail him too, imo. Crackheads are not to be trusted. The guy that murdered committed a crime of passion, in a sense, and most likely is not a real danger to anyone unless they harm his family. I would live and let live with him, he did his time.

Good luck with this Straight Story.

[TygrBright]

7. I guess if it was me...

...I'd phone the bus company, and volunteer to have my front yard be the bus stop.

helpfully,
Bright

[pacalo]

8. Wow. You are some story-teller!

:popcorn:

If at all possible, I would move out of the neighborhood.

[Warren DeMontague]

10. The best line: "He kept the 'hood clean of some iffy folks"

Iffy-er than the ones you have in your hood now?

Shit, man! Thank god for the Neighborhood watch! ;)

I dunno, but the kids waiting for the bus stop in front of the sex offender's house does sound to me like a time bomb waiting to go off.

[MelliMel]

11. I would call the school and ask

if they could move the stop. Yes I know that if a molester wants to get a kid, he or she will, but why make it easy?

[undergroundpanther]

12. I hate molestors

Drug dealers are scum for sure. At least this asshole doesen't get kids addicted,if that chages he is a danger..A killer is nuts, amnd as long as he's not threatening to off anyone elsde..He can be tolerated I guess Not the sort of person I'd respect or trust per se tho. Death is better than traumatic scars that never go away.I weished many times the asshole molestor that ruined my life would have just killed me.
I wish it was legal to kill molestors.That way they could;nt molest no more forever.All pedophiles are not to be trusted or tolerated they in my opinion are less than human once they do that to a kid..Because They ruin lives and they do not'reform' because get off on it because they LIKE it.

I would give the death penalty to molestors if there was a way to do it and keep it honest so innocent people were not caught up in it.

[PaDem]

13. What channel is this show on? (eom)

!!!

[neebob]

14. I'd worry about a guy who needs to say he sees kids as off limits.

And I'd be all over the school district about the bus stop.

[CornField]

15. Move.

Unless there was no other option (and I mean absolutely no other option), I would not raise my children in the vincinity of a killer, a dealer or a molester. Further there is absolutely no way in hell that I would be making nice with any of them. Each and every one of the people you've described here destroy lives -- one directly, one through possibly dangerous substances and one through the soul. It is impossible to separate them as they have all chosen paths which cannot be accepted in society. Move.

[radwriter0555]

16. You don't need to worry about anyone other than the child molestor. The

other guys are just local color, really. Their deeds have no affect on you. Your primary concern is for the kids.

That said, I agree with other posters. Go see the principal, explain to them what you explained to us (really well, too, I must say) and just have them move the bus stop.

At least the kids will be out of the line of sight of the guy, and you'll be removing temptation further down the road.

Also, you should consider having a talk with the guy. Straight up, man to man. No drama, no bullshit. Just "I know about your past, and I'm counting on you to act like a good guy and never do that again, ever... I'm concerned about my kids and every other kid around here, so you have to be on your best behavior." Appeal to his good side, he may still have one left. No threats, just tell him what you expect from him.

And move that bus stop.

Good luck.

[The Straight Story]

20. Working on do such today

will get an update when I find out more this week.

[pitohui]

17. well the drug dealer is the real problem of course

i used to live in a bad neighborhood and the crack dealer is the one your kids will seek out

the creep will be avoided by the kids but there comes a stage of life, and we all go thru it, when drugs are a rite of passage

i would put top priority on getting mr. crack dealer out of the hood

actually me, i would sell my house and move elsewhere if i had kids, when i lived in such a neighborhood to save up to buy my home, i did not have children and i think it rather irresponsible frankly, it's fun to slum when we're young and adventurous but not quite fair to put our children in that situation

i don't agree that the bus stop is easily moved, i too complained to try to get a bus stop moved from in front of my house, and they do KNOW it isn't because of safety concerns it's because you don't want the brats gathering on your landscaping and they basically told me to fuck off, years later, they did move the stop but only because all of the kids had grown up and graduated and we're a retiree haven now, EVERYBODY wants the bus stop across the street from them moved elsewhere, they just don't usually think of such a colorful story to try to convince

since the stop is right in front of your house as well as the molestor's house, i think it would be the best possible situation to keep an eye on the kid or am i not understanding the point of the story? moving the stop would make it more difficult for you to see your kids while waiting for the bus, correct?

i say no more allowing your kids to hang w. crack dealer or even former crack dealer (the killer's) kids and certainly not w. mister molestor, so, yeah, your kids are going to be spending a lot of time indoors, so really i say move the hell out to a decent place, your kids only get one childhood and right now you're imprinting on them that's ok to hang w. crack dealers and killers (if he had a good reason to kill and "only" got six years)

is this the message you really want to send? the time to "get experienced" was before you had the kids, you have responsibilities now

you can always go slumming again when your youngest turns 18

now if by "fixing" the crack dealer's computer you mean to set him up for a crime he didn't commit, rather than report him for the crimes you believe he is committing, we can't support that type of thing and i suggest if you are really just fantasizing all this crap about your evil neighbors to just knock it off, because if it's in your head and evidence has to be planted to get these people arrested, mysteriously, wherever you go, there you are and there will always be crack dealers, molestors, killers etc.

[Marie26]

18. Tell the sex offender

that if he is considering re-offending, he needs to seek therapy as soon as possible.

[SmokingJacket]

19. Write a letter to the principal of the school

or else the superintendent. It's an easy enough business to move the bus stop.

In most places there are regulations about sex offenders near schools, so there's a precendent for concern. The other two guys there's nothing you can do about.

But really... kids should not be standing around alone unless they can protect themselves more or less as well as an adult could. If they're young enough so that they're physically vulnerable to snatching or naive enough that they'd go off with a stranger, an adult should monitor the stop.