FL - Registered sex offender can live near school

Original Article

01/30/2014

By Laura Caso

CLAY COUNTY - According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's website, a registered sex offender is living just feet away from Clay Hill Elementary School.

The sex offender, who First Coast News has decided not to name, moved to the area at the beginning of January. According to the Clay County Sheriff's Office, he was arrested in September of 2004 for possessing and distributing child pornography. He served time in federal prison and according to the CCSO, he got off probation at the beginning of the month.

Under Florida law, sex offenders are not allowed to move within 1,000 feet of a school or park. CCSO said this sex offender lives 1,056 feet away from the elementary school. Detective Ryan Ellis said this man isn't doing anything wrong according to the law.

"He's not doing anything wrong," said Ellis. "He is currently within all of his guidelines of state statute, and he's in full compliance under Florida State Department of Law Enforcement regulations with sexual offender requirements and he's under full compliance with the sheriff's office."

However, parents are still concerned and angered by the recent move. One mother said, if he doesn't move, she might move her kids.

"I am considering pulling them out and putting them in home-school. That has crossed my mind. And, depending on how this turns out, that might be the right option for me."