Mom Finds 43 Sex Offenders, Predators Living Around Elem. School
New FDLE Maps Show Location Of Sex Offenders
POSTED: Monday, November 19, 2007
UPDATED: 12:21 am EST November 21,
2007
 |
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. -- A Central Florida woman using a new Florida Department of Law Enforcement mapping source found 43 sex offenders and predators living within a two-mile radius of her children's elementary school.
SURVEY: What Do You Think?
Janese Evans, whose children attend Hamilton Elementary School in Seminole County, said she was shocked to find so many sex offenders living near the school."I don't think they have the first clue as to how many (sex offenders) are within walking distances of the schools," resident Janese Evans said. "My kid's safety is my No. 1 concern. I don't want to have to go to work and wonder if my kids made it to school or not."Local 6 reported that Evans is going public because she lives less than two miles from the school and a path to campus passes by the home of a registered sex offender."It totally surprised me," Evans said. "I know that they can't live within a certain distance from school."Under Florida law, a sexual predator or offender may not live within 1,000 feet from any school, day care, park or playground. However, anything beyond 1,000 feet is legal.Children are well within the front door of offenders and predators as they walk to school, Local 6's Mike Holfeld reported.The latest Florida Department of Law Enforcement map source shows 26 offenders and one predator within walking distance of Bear Lake Elementary School.Local 6 showed video of a sheriff's deputy doing a routine check of a sex offender in Central Florida who lives less than 2 miles from Bear Lake.School leaders in Seminole County acknowledged the risk, Holfeld reported.Officials said they want transportation for any student walking in the path of a predator.Florida Rep. Sandy Adams said elementary and middle school children in every county in Central Florida are facing the same potential risk."I'm concerned that our children's safety is at risk," Adams said. "I think a lot of people don't realize who is living in their neighborhoods."
SURVEY: What Do You Think? Janese Evans, whose children attend Hamilton Elementary School in Seminole County, said she was shocked to find so many sex offenders living near the school."I don't think they have the first clue as to how many (sex offenders) are within walking distances of the schools," resident Janese Evans said. "My kid's safety is my No. 1 concern. I don't want to have to go to work and wonder if my kids made it to school or not."Local 6 reported that Evans is going public because she lives less than two miles from the school and a path to campus passes by the home of a registered sex offender."It totally surprised me," Evans said. "I know that they can't live within a certain distance from school."Under Florida law, a sexual predator or offender may not live within 1,000 feet from any school, day care, park or playground. However, anything beyond 1,000 feet is legal.Children are well within the front door of offenders and predators as they walk to school, Local 6's Mike Holfeld reported.The latest Florida Department of Law Enforcement map source shows 26 offenders and one predator within walking distance of Bear Lake Elementary School.Local 6 showed video of a sheriff's deputy doing a routine check of a sex offender in Central Florida who lives less than 2 miles from Bear Lake.School leaders in Seminole County acknowledged the risk, Holfeld reported.Officials said they want transportation for any student walking in the path of a predator.Florida Rep. Sandy Adams said elementary and middle school children in every county in Central Florida are facing the same potential risk."I'm concerned that our children's safety is at risk," Adams said. "I think a lot of people don't realize who is living in their neighborhoods."
FDLE Launches Mapping System
Meanwhile, Local 6 conducted a random check of elementary and middle schools across Central Florida and found many sex offenders live less than a mile from the schools.The Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers a new mapping system to locate sex offenders and predators living around schools.The map puts the location of sex offenders in blue, predators in red and multiple offenders in purple.Adams wrote the blueprint for legislation that would designate those walks to school as "hazardous" and calls for busing.Some said additional busing would be too expensive."That statement bothers me that it costs too much to protect our children," Adams said. "I don't believe that for one moment."Adams introduced the bill last session and it was blocked, Holfeld reported.Adams said she is not giving up.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.Copyright 2007 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com.
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