Ronnie Levon White was released from Johnson State Prison in Wrightsville, Ga., on Nov. 27, but in less than a month he was back behind bars.
Richmond County deputies arrested him Dec. 18 on East Chapman Street after he did not register as a sex offender with the sheriff's office -- the same charge that landed him a three-year term in 2007.
Nearly every week, sex offenders fall off the police radar. Most are found quickly. However, there are still more than 400 male and female rapists, child molesters and other sex offenders in Georgia that authorities can't locate.
The sheriff's office is hoping a new Web site, which went online Wednesday, will make keeping tabs on them easier by letting the public track sex offenders in their neighborhoods.
Residents can enter their information -- name, address and e-mail -- and receive regular updates on the registered sex offenders living in their neighborhoods, according to Mike Blanchard, the assistant director of the Richmond County Information Technology Department. They can also type in the name of an offender and receive e-mail alerts if the person moves or is arrested, he said.
The site allows law enforcement to share information on offenders with other departments nationwide that use the offender watch program.
Under state law, those convicted of a crime against a minor or any dangerous sexual offense must register with their local law enforcement once a year. At least 72 hours before their birthday, offenders in Richmond County must visit with authorities to update their photo, address, fingerprints and other information. If they don't, offenders face felony charges and a 10- to 30-year prison term.
"They don't see that what they are doing is wrong," said Investigator Charles Mulherin, who is tasked with keeping tabs on the 240 active offenders in Richmond County. He said many offenders don't want to be found, while others might miss a deadline but register later.
In Richmond County, there are four offenders who have been missing for a year or more, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Sex Offender Registry.
Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.
Sex offender registries
- OffenderWatch and the Online Inmate Inquiry can be accessed by going to www.augustaga.gov and clicking on "Sheriff" under "Departments."
- The GBI's Sex Offender Registry can be found by going to www.gbi.georgia.gov and clicking "Services."
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010. All Rights Reserved.
While I consider child abuse one of the most horrendous crimes, the Georgia law is unclear as to what is a "crime against minors" or "any dangerous sexual offense". The obvious offenders aren't in question, but the 18 year old dating a 17 year old is often in the mix of "sexual offender". Consensual homosexual relationships between a 17 year old and a 25 year old is called a statutory offense and is often in the mix. As long as the law releases sex offenders, I'm all for the registry, but I'd sure like to see a little better definition of what is and isn't a sexual offense.
I'm in total agreement with you, johnston.cliff. And 13 - 17 year old females often look older and lie about their age and pass themselves off as 18 year olds or older. This should be taken into account when prosecuting the male for consensual relationships. Often times the female is as guilty or more guilty than the male.
I would like to know,when did they STOP inforcing the 1000 feet bus stop rule???? Does any one have that information????
I agree with J.C and would like saltine to tell me where he has seen a posted BUSSTOP. Last I looked the DA## busses stop at every house in a neighborhood. If we are going to have a law concerning bus stops, then make sure it is clear that busses can't stop anywhere except at a posted bus stop. Sure would make my driving time way shorter.
Dont't tell me the chronicle just found out about this and is only now doing a story on it, this has BEEN out. How behind in time this paper is oh but wait they seem to be up to date on the daily HATE for Obama.
Nowhere in the story did it say "The Augusta Chronicle learned today that.....". I'd politely suggest you do an archive search before you show any more of your hiney.
Concerned your statement "I'm in total agreement with you, johnston.cliff. And 13 - 17 year old females often look older and lie about their age and pass themselves off as 18 year olds or older." Seems you and cliff should ask for I.D's if you're trolling for younger girls , then you wouldn't have to worry about the laws.
Ok,I get the bus stop "thing", but what law is still there to protect our nieghborhood and children, if a child molester moves into it.I feel now that our children are at more of a risk ,than before.They can just move in anywhere around any one.and any where
Wait a minute guys. Isn't this still the great state og Georgia??? Why can't we just put the age of consent back to 13 like it was 15 years ago and this won't be a problem. This would certainly help with over crowded prisons and most 13 year olds know everything any how.
But....WHAT'S the applivable URL???????
JOHNSTON, would know about the statue on homosexual offense. I guess it is from studying with SMARTIE and ICSUNSHINE. Not that there is anything wrong. I guess you can see sunshine when you exit the closet.
ispy, I see your post. Coming from a ROAD (retired on active duty) spook it's not worth a response. I just didn't want you to think I was hiding from the boogey man.
This, along with the inmate inquiry are very useful tools that the city has done for us.
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com
Sex offender laws do not protect anybody and the registry is diluted because they put all people on it, dangerous or not, so when you look at it, everyone assumes child molester. Less than 5% on the registry are truly dangerous and those are who should be monitored instead of 100%.
Also, many states and counties use Offender Watch, which comes with a generic presentation which states "50% of sex offenders re-offend," which I know for a fact is totally wrong. The real recidivism rate is around 5% or less.
See their presentation here:
http://www.sheriffalerts.com/presentations/ga/richmond/richmond.html
And here is the one for a county in Washington state, who changed it to be more accurate:
http://www.communitynotification.com/presentations/wa/adams/adams.html
And also see this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmHZwy5yICE
Any RSO in Georgia, please visit and join SOSEN to help get these unconstitutional laws repealed:
http://sosen.org/
See this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmHZwy5yICE
Visit: http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com
SOIssues, it would be infinitely more helpful if the list was limited to the truly dangerous and predatory.
SOIssues, sorry, I don't agree with you. The sex offenders DO reoffend. There is no cure for their sickness and evil. Sure hope that your family never meets up with one of your 95% "won't reoffend" sex offenders. Because with the terrible conviction rates of sex offenses, the convicted ones just represent a very minute portion of how many there really are. How nice that you want all the RSO's to contact you.
I did not say they do not reoffend, some do, but a vast majority does not. Read the studies about recidivism. Plus, if you look at the registries, you will notice most have been convicted in one case and not multiples.
You care to back up your comments with facts instead of your personal opinion? What conviction rate? Show me proof to back up your statements.
It's on! In this corner.........
SOIssues - You're playing with the numbers. Many sex offenders are not caught. Stats in WA state produced by the Task Force on Community Protection found that the average predatory offender committed 34 offenses for every conviction. There may be some low end crimes on registries but many are REDUCED charges to eliminate trials and many sex cases never are charged that way due to lack of evidence.
SOIssues - You're playing with the numbers. Many sex offenders are not caught. Stats in WA state produced by the Task Force on Community Protection found that the average predatory offender committed 34 offenses for every conviction. There may be some low end crimes on registries but many are REDUCED charges to eliminate trials and many sex cases never are charged that way due to lack of evidence.
sorry about the dup post - bad connection... Further more, WA state established civil commitment procedure to put the most dangerous offenders in prison until they complete counselling and guess what? Most refuse and won't acknowledge the fact they are committing a crime. The real problem with registration is that there is no National database. Offenders move from state to state and drop off the system in many cases.
And by the way - your Adams county reference looks like a typo. It could also be population based - Ritzville & Othello Wa and 1 light towns - the county population is 6K. Not exactly statistically relevant.
Saltine, there is NOTHING to protect you if a sex offender moves into your neighborhood. And if you think that you are safe because the registry doesn't show anyone near you- those are just the ones that are known and convicted and are registered. There are sex offenders in your neighborhood now, in all likelihood. And it's been like that for hundreds of years.
And SOIssues, you are living in Dream World if you think that every time a sex offender offends, they are caught and sent to prison. They don't stop offending, they just get better at not being caught. How naive of you to think that sex offenders offend just once, or that every sexual offense is reported or leads to conviction. Would you like to talk about the number of sex offenders who are arrested versus the ones who are convicted? Would you like to talk about what the conviction rate of 1st degree rape is? " Factoring in unreported rapes, about 5% - one out of twenty - of rapists will ever spend a day in jail. 19 out of 20 will walk free. (Probability statistics based on US Department of Justice Statistics) " I cannot fathom anyone who would defend sexual offenders. I agree, you do have issues, all right.
I was notified by :"family watch dog" that this child molester was coming to my neighborhood,the day BEFORE he got released (12/26/2009)from prison.If not for them ,no one would have been aware of his being here.He has moved into a house with his sister and next door to a family with two children.Why didn't the county warn any one????Now what do we do ,to get him out???I have my own solutation,but I WILL go to jail if I carry through with it.The county did tell me,"quote: "He has rights ,too".Can you beleive that sh#@??? What a world!!!!!!
You can't get them out. He has served his sentence. We have one like that in my neighborhood, too. The house next to him has been empty for 2 years. No one will even look at it because the real estate agent has to disclose. And there isn't anywhere to go to get away from them unless you want to live next to a school. If your neighborhood is anything like mine, the whole family will be shunned and no one will set foot on the property. Forbid your children to go anywhere near that place. Show them the house. Tell them when you are calm, and tell them "A person lives here that likes to hurt kids, stay away from this house. Do not go to this house for any reason." Remind them again before Halloween and during school vacations. All the neighbors will watch him like a hawk, believe me.
I would like to go on record and state that to me, although child sexual predators are felons. they do not fall into the same category as 'felon' to me. To me, they should be chemically castrated and have a lobotomy performed, for starters. I defend NO child abuser!
@iknowitwheniseeit - Well, I have three recidivism studies linked on my blog, for Washington, which also show low recidivism rates. So, do you care to point me to this so called study from Washinton you quote? See here: http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com/2008/10/state-specific-recidivism-...
I agree with johnston. Some young men lives are ruined because young girls, trying to be grown putting themselves in situations. The decision to prosecute lies with her parents and due to embarrassment, they go forward with it. Next few months their precious little darling will be out strolling around again. The young man will be scarred for life.