California state workers union official held in child-porn case

Authorities on Tuesday arrested the president of a state workers union local on suspicion of possessing child pornography and violating his probation as a sex offender.

Jaime E. Feliciano, 49, works at the state Insurance Department as a research program specialist, according to public records.

Sacramento County Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran said authorities recently received a tip from police in Reno that Feliciano had inappropriate contact with a juvenile there.

Curran said the tip was turned over to the high-tech crime task force, which is led by the Sheriff's Department.

Task force members carried out a compliance check Tuesday at Feliciano's South Natomas home on Rancho Roble Way, where they found thousands of pornographic images of children on his computer,

Oh but there's more!

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The president of a state workers union and a registered child sex offender living next to a day care facility was arrested Tuesday, Sacramento police said.

Jaime Feliciano, 49, who was previously convicted of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, was arrested at his home located in a South Natomas neighborhood after authorities found thousands of child pornographic images on his computer, police said.

Feliciano is a researcher at the state insurance department and was elected in June to be president of the union known as SEIU 784. The union represents workers not only with the state insurance department, but also the state Controller's office, general services and other agencies, law enforcement officials said.

State officials said they are working with law enforcement officials and are checking Feliciano's work computer to see if it contains any illegal images.

SEIU officials said they had no idea Feliciano had a criminal record and that no background check was done.

Probation officers went to Feliciano's home on Tuesday after receiving a tip from police in Reno.

Authorities said they are concerned there may be more potential victims in the Sacramento area.

Neighbors and a local day care center owner said Feliciano, 49, seemed like a normal and nice guy.

"He was giving treats to kids," said Liliya Lyubezhanin, who operates a licensed day care facility with 12 children near Feliciano's home. "He was OK, and I was thinking he was a nice guy."

Neighbor Joanie Chaudhary never let her kids play outside because she knew that Feliciano was on Megan's Law List.

"I was wondering how they have the child care next door with him on there," Chaudhary said. "I wanted to ask my neighbor, but I didn't want to be rude."

According to Jessica's Law, which was passed by voters as Proposition 83 two years ago, registered sex offenders cannot live within 2,000 feet of a school or park.

The law, however, does not include any restrictions about living near day care centers and law enforcement officials said nothing can stop Feliciano from moving back near the day care once he is released.

Feliciano is currently being held on $120,000 bail at the Sacramento County Jail.

Thanks for the ping, as it reminds me of a suggestion that I heard on the radio.

The talker, talked of how we check the sex offenders who are in our neighborhoods, yes, even in the desert, we have them.

But said no one ever checks the neighborhoods of the colleges that they send their kids to.

Then went on to give several ugly examples, in different areas.

I will never understand why they are not shot, for the first offense.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.