Wednesday, February 15, 2006

What the... ?

Well, things just keep getting more interesting in my Springer-esque neighborhood!

Last night I overheard someone mentioning the Michigan Sex Offender Registry, and I realized I hadn’t looked up my town before I moved in or at any time since. I looked up all the neighborhoods where the ex-H and I were considering buying a house last year. I guess I was in too much of a hurry this time!

So I went to the website. I plugged in my ZIP code. It gave me a list. And guess who was on it?

Why, none other but my mother-abusing, karaoke-singing, stoner neighbor!

Second degree criminal sexual conduct was the charge. It didn’t provide any details, other than that it was not with a minor. So I looked up the meaning for second degree criminal sexual conduct. It is sexual contact (not penetration) involving force, coercion, use of a weapon, or incest, and it is a felony carrying a sentence of up to 15 years.

Now, this guy was never anything but polite to me, and I had no reason to suspect that he was anything other than a bit eccentric. But now…

It’s strange, but I feel almost betrayed. My safe, secure little home was not nearly so safe as I had thought it was. And now I don’t feel nearly as good as I did about living on my own. :-(

10 comments:

Tirithien said...

:-(

I can change the locks for you, if you like- same key, but that bolt will actually be useable.

Martie said...

Oh my yes, get the locks changed and make it more secure! I checked the registry before we moved into the neighborhood where we have resided since last June and our house was listed....I guess that's who we bought the house from. I'm sure the neighbors were glad to see him move!!

Anonymous said...

Oh good heavens! Just what a mother wants to hear! :o(

Bainwen Gilrana said...

I now have a working deadbolt lock. But do you think I remembered to lock it this morning, after so many months of not being able to lock it from the outside? Nope!

But I will catch on. Honest. Thank you for swapping it out, my love. :-)

clew said...

Yikes! ~

The sad thing is, you cant get away from them. I live in the boonies and looked up my zip shortly after we moved to this house... there are 2 living one country road over from me. :(

Be safe, friend ...

Bougie Black Boy said...

THAT is crazy...
when I was in grad school, I did the same thing. But I was using the peoples' pictures as character sketches for stories. But during my time doing this, I came across one guy who was taking classes at my school and I passed him daily.

Lizzy Leigh said...

Wow! Take care of yourself. I know how scary it can be when you find out things like that. You'll be okay. You have a big, strong man to protect you. ;)

nosthegametoo said...

This is all the more reason to stay alert. But we all must do that everywhere we go.

Michelle said...

Do you know if he served any time for those charges? Maybe he'll go back to jail after this recent arrest.

Now look what you did to your poor mom!

Bainwen Gilrana said...

I know, I should have known better than to post this where my mom would see it! (See, Mom, you should have gotten me those karate lessons when I was a kid-- just kidding!)

But the guy still hasn't come back. He might be in jail for quite some time. And hey, if he's in jail, he can't pay his rent, so he'll get evicted anyway and have to go someplace else when he does get out.

Thinking realistically, now that the initial panic has passed, I've lived in this apartment for almost 9 months. I've had no trouble with this guy. Why would that suddenly change because I became aware of something he did in the past? He doesn't know that I know. And I'm hardly going to TELL him. I'll just be more cautious than I have been, more aware of my surroundings and such, and I should be fine. Thank you all for your concern!

(Aithne, it does no good to have a big strong man to protect me when the man lives 40 miles away! It means I'm only protected on weekends. ;-) )