Newsday/John Moreno Gonzales
Suffolk prosecutors are investigating an allegation of sexual misconduct against the Rev. PeterAllen, a Roman Catholic priest in Mattituck, who has also been placed on administrative leave bythe diocese. Allen is from Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.
(New York)
Timoteo Rodriguez, a 29 year old Roslyn High School substitute teacher, is charged in the December 2 off-campus rape of a 15 year old female student. Rodriguez, who taught sex education and other subjects at Roslyn before his arrest Tuesday, had worked as a full time social studies teacher at Westbury High School and a day to day substitute teacher at West Hempstead High School. Rodriguez was charged with third degree rape (which is a Class E felony punishable upon conviction by up to 4 years in prison), disseminating indecent
Newsday/James T. Madore
The Suffolk Legislature yesterday approved its most sweeping restrictions to date on themovement of sex offenders, who would be barred from hanging around playgrounds, public swimmingpools, video arcades or other places where children congregate. The bill is the second of its kindin New York State. Seneca County recently barred sex offenders from entering county parks,playgrounds, schools and beaches. The Suffolk bill affects Level 2 and Level 3 offenders,considered to be the most dangerous. Violators would face up to a year in jail.
SPECIFICS OF THE NEW LEGISLATION
The Suffolk County
On the eve of Suffolk County lawmakers voting on yet another bill to restrict sex offenders, political and community leaders across Long Island acknowledged the limitations of such restrictions while others defended the rules. The measure, which Suffolk legislators are expected to pass unanimously today, would prohibit registered Level 2 and 3 sex offenders from loitering within 100 feet of playgrounds, pools, arcades, youth centers and day care facilities.
(New York)
Across Long Island, communities concerned about the access sex offenders have to children have passed ever-tighter legislation restricting where convicted child molesters, rapists and other sex offenders can live. nationally, 21 states and hundreds of municipalities have similar laws on the books. But experts in sex-offender treatment and recidivism say there is little proof such measures keep communities safer or prevent sex offenders from striking again. Other experts say making it harder for sex offenders to find housing can lead to stress and instability, which can increase the likelihood they
Newsday/Chau Lam
To announce her proposal to begin random address checks of registered sex offenders, SuffolkLegis. Kate Browning paid a visit to the neighborhood with the highest concentration of offenderson Long Island. Homestead Drive, the Gordon Heights street where Browning and other officialsgathered on November 27 for a news conference, is home to 29 registered Level 2 and 3 sexoffenders. The Gordon Heights area has 65 by the civic association’s latest count. The proposed lawwould have sheriff’s deputies randomly check up on registered sex offenders in Suffolk to ensurethe accuracy of