Los Angeles, CA–I am sometimes skeptical about how fairly we’re dealing with apparent sex offenders because false accusations of child sexual abuse are fairly common in divorce and custody disputes. The story below is perhaps another example. From the Associated Press’ Sex Offenders Try to Block Laws Allowing Them to Be ID’d Online:
One plaintiff, identified as Doe 2 in court documents, said neither he nor his attorney at the time understood that lifetime supervision would apply after he pleaded guilty in 2001 to a sex offense, or that he would continue to be banned from going to parks or schools.
He said that during an acrimonious divorce his ex-wife accused him of sexually assaulting her 14-year-old daughter. He faced five felony charges but pleaded guilty to one count of attempted lewdness with a minor under 14, and was sentenced to 5 years probation.
“I never touched my stepdaughter or any other child inappropriately,” he said in the affidavit, which says he took a plea deal to spare his children the embarrassment of a trial. “I was not told that there would be any restrictions on me whatsoever after I was done with probation.”
He now lives with his second wife, his adult adopted stepdaughter, his 15-year-old son and the couple’s 5-year-old son in Las Vegas. He said he fears for his family’s safety and his job if he is identified publicly as a sex offender.
“I have done everything I can to comply with the law, and be a good citizen,” he says in the affidavit. “I would never hurt anyone. But none of that matters now.”
Thanks to Michael Robinson for sending the story.