AIKEN --- Sex offenders already living in Aiken County won't have to move under proposed restrictions on where they can live, but those planning to move in later will be banned from certain areas.
The latest change follows a Georgia Supreme Court ruling that struck down similar restrictions in that state as being an unlawful taking of property.
Rather than make sex offenders living in Aiken County move, county council members say they're willing to "grandfather" them in to avoid a similar court ruling in South Carolina.
The newly proposed law -- the latest in several revisions since the issue first came up last year -- would restrict new sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet or working for child-care facilities, churches, schools or parks. They also won't be able to loiter within 1,000 feet of areas where minors congregate.
But on the advice of the county attorney, the law made two significant changes: Current sex offenders won't have to move, and if any of those facilities open after they've moved in, they won't have to leave.
However, sex offenders who are renting might be forced to move once their lease expires.
Councilwoman LaWana McKenzie said anyone trying to open a church or child-care facility has a responsibility to research the area they're considering.
It would be like opening a housing development next to a pig pen, then complaining about the smell, she said.
"Well, they knew the pig pen was there," she said.
Despite the changes, council members on the county's judicial and public safety committees all said they were uncomfortable with South Carolina's classification of sex offenders.
Calling them "too broad," Ms. McKenzie said the classifications make no distinction between a child molester and someone convicted of public indecency after being caught urinating in public.
"We've got them all in the same pot, and that's not fair," she said.
Councilman Eddie Butler said he would vote for the revised law but that the state's classification gives him "heartburn" because the lack of distinction can mean "being ostracized for a lifetime."
There are about 260 registered sex offenders in Aiken County, according to Sgt. Chris Funk, the sex offender coordinator for the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.
County Administrator Clay Killian said Tuesday that the county's two biggest cities are waiting to see what the county decides before committing to enacting the restrictions, cooperation that Sheriff Michael Hunt has pushed for.
Sheriff Hunt said Tuesday night that most of the county's sex offenders live within city limits.
Reach Sandi Martin at (803) 648-1395, ext. 111, or sandi.martin@augustachronicle.com.
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