Putnam mom concerned about sex offender tracking

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — A Putnam mother is concerned after she learned through the state’s registry program that a sex offender moved next door to her home.

Hallie Kask said she wanted to hear it from local law enforcement.

“It’s right next door, and nobody informed me,” said Kask.

Donald Stevens was convicted of molesting a victim 12 to 15 years old in 2012, but he didn’t meet the state’s criteria for Kask to be notified.

“My kids, their kids, the people behind us, they all catch the bus right here in front of this man’s house,” she said.

State Statute requires local law enforcement to inform nearby residents about sexual predators, but not offenders.

Action News Jax Crime and Safety Expert Ken Jefferson said the difference lies in the victim’s age at the time of the incident.

He said only some local agencies have the resources to notify nearby residents about offenders.

“Offenders are required to check in with local law enforcement but local law enforcement in return is not required to notify persons,” he said.

Each county has a different way of notifying neighbors when sexual offenders or predators move near them.

Putnam County distributes notices to residents within a mile and nearby schools and day cares, but only for sexual predators.

In Duval County, schools within a one mile radius are notified of predators.

For residents, it’s within .5 mile radius. The county also encourages citizens to look up offenders in their area.

In St. Johns County, neighbors are notified in multiple ways when a predator moves close by, but there’s no mandatory notifications for offenders.

Kask said she’d like to see the state laws change, and that local law enforcement agencies could do a better job tracking offenders.

“They say that they advise you whenever a predator moves in, but in all actuality, a predator and offender is the same thing. They have sought out their victim,” she said. “If people aren’t aware of their surroundings, there’s no telling what the dangers are.”

Cox Media Group