Official: Sex offender passed for months as a 12 year old

[helderheid]

By CHRIS KAHN, Associated Press Writer 16 minutes ago



PHOENIX - A convicted sex offender attended at least two Arizona middle schools, sat through seventh-grade courses and turned in homework as he moved around the state pretending to be 12 years old, officials say.


Authorities in Yavapai County have accused Neil Havens Rodreick II, who is really 29, of assaulting a girl. They are not releasing details.

Rodreick was arrested last week after spending a day at the Mingus Springs Charter School in Chino Valley, about 90 miles northwest of Phoenix. School officials there called police after they checked what they called a phony birth certificate and other admissions documents.

He has been charged with misdemeanor assault, conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to commit forgery, failing to register as a sex offender, and possession of a forgery device. He remains in the Yavapai County jail.

The sheriff's office there said Rodreick conned two men he was living with and having sex with into believing he was a young boy. One of them, 61-year-old Lonnie Stiffler, called himself Rodreick's grandfather when he tried to enroll him at Mingus Springs as "Casey Price."

Officials at another school, in the Phoenix area, said they were reviewing their admissions policies to figure out how they could have let an adult sex offender mix with students for so long.

"Our first priority is to help our students and our families establish a sense of security on our campus," said Rhonda Cagle, spokeswoman for the Imagine School at Rosefield, a charter school for kindergartners through eighth-graders that Rodreick attended sporadically from August to November.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070124/ap_on_re_us/sex_offender_ruse

edited to add his photo

[waiting for hope]

1. Gee - who's from Arizona?

Oh yeah.......

[EdwardM]

2. I've seen the picture of him on TV

I'd say at best, he could pass for a 20 year old. He doesn't look like a 12 year old kid, not even close. Everyone should be fired at that school who allowed this.

[Wizard777]

7. Aging is not universal. I didn't look 12 when I was 12. Some even mistake size for age.

I'm 6'11". I can remember when I was 8 yrs old. I was playing with some friends. This man walking down the street stopped and started giving me a hard time. "Aren't you too old to be playing with those kids?" Without missing a beat. One of my friends shot back. Mister he's the youngest one here and if you make him cry we're gonna kick your butt. :blush: I was a gentle giant.

[Sequoia]

17. Where you a big baby too?

I'll bet you have an Ox name Blue too. Where your parents tall, siblings, do you have children? It must be a bother going through doors. I'm very small myself and always got stuck in the back seat, and can never reach a shelf and pants are always too long.

What a funny story though.

[Wizard777]

20. Yes but not by much. I just grew and grew and grew. Literally inches over night.

I remember once Mom cried because she bought my school clothes. I woke up the next morning and they didn't fit anymore. She alway bought bigger that what I currently was. That changed frequently and drastically. LOL My parents often said they didn't know which was worse. Keeping me clothed or fed. A 5 lb roast is MINE. Mom is average height. Dad was the runt of the litter at 6' 2". I have uncles my size. I'm proportionate. No Giganticism. The only growth disorder I had was Osgood Schlauters. Teh bones in my knees grew faster than the tendons. But I out grew that. God just said I'm making this one big. No siblings or children. Most public places aren't that bad. Friend homes can be a pain. Literally in the back and knees. I've been fortunate and can afford Custom everything. I never hesitate to lend others my car. They'll be back in a few minutes to tell me they can't reach the pedals. LMAO

[Sequoia]

24. Overnight growth!!

We used to put our tot to bed for a nap telling her she'd grow quicker that way and now she's 11 and as tall as me. We were sort of teasing her but there just might be a grain of truth in it. Your poor mom, I know the feeling. I'd buy clothes or she'd get some as Xmas gifts and the next month she couldn't wear them anymore. Heck, some she never even wore.

[Ezlivin]

19. But height has its advantages: I always dated older women

At "only" 6'7" I found it was easy to date more mature women.

They taught me a lot.

:)

[Wizard777]

21. True but there is a down side.

It's no fun when they go :wow: The only place your sticking that is back in your pants! :blush:

[Lerkfish]

3. I need to see a picture of a 29-yr old that looks 12...wth?

and how could he attend "sporadically" without raising some kind of red flags?

[helderheid]

6. check the op again - I posted his picture

[Lerkfish]

14. sheesh, anyone who thinks he's 12 is blind.

thanks for posting the pic

[helderheid]

16. unbelievable to me as well. What is wrong with these people??

[skypilot]

22. Maybe they thought...

...he was a 12 year old who'd been out in the Arizona sun too long. I really can't get my mind around it.

[Catherine Vincent]

4. Bizarre!

[greyl]

5. Yep, this is a crazy story. You should add "as a 12 year old" to the subject

to draw all due attention.

I saw a school spokesperson claim that "the guy wasn't a trouble maker and handed in his assignments on time." WTF?

[helderheid]

8. fixed!

:hi: thanks!

[helderheid]

9. fixed it and it dropped !

[MissB]

10. The whole story is just freaky

He doesn't look 12. The guys he was living with were pissed off to learn that he wasn't really a 12 year old boy.

Sick all the way around.

[helderheid]

11. It is SO disturbing. What you said about the guys who lived with him is truly disgusting and freaky!

[mikeytherat]

12. C'mon, that's no 12-year-old wannabe- it's John Wayne Bobbit!

John Wayne Bobbit


Neil Havens Rodreick II

mikey_the_rat

[devilgrrl]

13. He doesn't look a day over 29.

:eyes:

[lies and propaganda]

15. dude! i own land in that county!

how batshit crazy is this story???????????

doesnt look a day under 18 to me but somehow convinces two dudes hes 12 and to enroll him in middle school! And then they finds hes freaking already enrolled in phx.

jesus h christ in heaven...

[yurbud]

18. they need an IQ test for K-12 administrators. Most of them need to be riding the short bus

[helderheid]

23. NO SHIT!

[yurbud]

25. few other jobs where incompetent employees can promote themselves by taking a few night classes