Posted on 04/18/2006 11:58:39 AM PDT by freepatriot32
CORINTH, Maine - The Maine Department of Public Safety has no plans to change the state's Web-based sex offender registry despite the killings of two sex offenders whose addresses were apparently obtained online.
A Canadian man used the registry to obtain personal information about the victims, authorities said, renewing fears that such lists expose ex-convicts to vigilante violence.
"The events of the weekend will obviously be reviewed, but there are no plans to change the Web site at this point," Stephen McCausland, Maine Public Safety spokesman, said Monday.
The gunman, Stephen A. Marshall, a 20-year-old from Nova Scotia's Cape Breton, committed suicide Sunday night in Boston after being confronted aboard a bus by police.
Investigators were uncertain what relationship, if any, Marshall had with the victims, who lived 25 miles apart.
But the two men were among 34 names in five towns Marshall had looked up on the Web site, McCausland said. Investigators said Marshall typed in his name to receive extra information online, including street addresses.
The Web site was disabled while police searched for Marshall but was restored Monday afternoon.
All states have sex offender registries designed to let people know of child molesters and other sex offenders in their midst, and almost all post the information online.
Maine's registry has the names of more than 2,200 sex offenders. It contains such information as the offender's name, address, date of birth, identifying characteristics and place of employment, as well as a photograph.
The killings added to a growing unease with such Web sites. Jack King from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Washington said making public sex offenders' addresses can be an invitation to violence.
Harassment, vandalism, assaults and even killings of sex offenders have been reported from coast to coast.
"There are going to be crazy people out there," King said. "And there's going to be vigilantism."
After New Jersey passed a public disclosure law on sex offenders in the 1990s, the brother of an offender was nearly beaten to death with a baseball bat when he was mistaken for his brother, King said.
In New Hampshire, Lawrence Trant went to prison after pleading guilty to the attempted murder of two convicted sex offenders whose names and addresses he found on an Internet registry.
A sex offender Web site in Washington state was cited in the slayings of two convicted child rapists last summer. Michael Anthony Mullen, 35, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to more than 44 years in prison.
The registered sex offenders shot to death in Maine were Joseph Gray, 57, of Milo, and William Elliott, 24, of Corinth.
Gray had moved to Maine after a Massachusetts conviction for sexual assault on a child under 14, McCausland said. Elliott was convicted of having sex with an underage girl, he said.
When he shot himself, Marshall had with him a laptop computer and two handguns, said Dave Procopio, spokesman for the Suffolk County, Mass., District Attorney's Office.
Marshall had come to Houlton, Maine, to visit his father, authorities said.
Police tracked Marshall to Boston after finding his father's pickup abandoned in Bangor along with a rifle. They also discovered bullets hidden in a bus stop restroom that were of the same caliber as one of his father's handguns.
Ralph Marshall told reporters his son didn't appear troubled and never said he had been sexually abused.
Gray and Elliott were shot about five hours apart Sunday morning. Neither appeared to have caused a stir recently.
Gray and his wife moved a couple of years ago from Massachusetts to Milo, said Kenny Hudak, a local police sergeant.
In Corinth, residents were alerted when Elliott moved into a trailer in the woods. The property was covered with trash, tires and at least a dozen junked vehicles.
"I think more people were concerned about the mess than him being a sex offender," said Mary Hadley, who lives across the road.
I said: I assume that most of those actually fearing vigilantism are on the offender list.
You said: And I assume that most of those actually supporting vigilantism are on the offender list.
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Am I missing the punch line?
Wouldn't the hunted (those on the offender list) fear vigilantes and tend not to suppport those who hunt them?
Am I going to groan at your reply?
Those who advocate illegal activities of one type are often engaged in various types of illegalities. One can have rule of law or a rule of outlaws. Vigilantism is rule of outlaws.
Those who advocate illegal activities of one type are often engaged in various types of illegalities. One can have rule of law or a rule of outlaws. Vigilantism is rule of outlaws.
_____
gotcha. you are taking the wider view. I was going narrow, that the hunted would fear the hunter.
Maybe grant illegals amnesty and citizenship if they can prove they eliminated 10 predators each, learned english, filed all paperwork properly, etc.
Better trained, yeah right. Just like the ATF are trained to recognize a gun when they see it, yet the assault the kid dressed like a ninja at the University of Georgia and it turns out he doesn't have a gun (as he claimed the whole time they were assaulting him).
In Ca. they are the predators
That's a problem with all of them, and it's the same problem as schools teaching "your Dad's scotch is a drug just like cocaine".
The powers HATE being made to do something they don't want to do (in this case, making a sex offender registry, or giving negative messages about drugs in schools).
So, they make it as useless as possible.
I totally agree! I think the registry needs to be abolished. Too many non-violent offenders and rather innocent people are placed on it. The real rapists and predators should remain in prison. And for those who arenâÂÂt are a real threat, to society, once theyâÂÂve served their time, should have the chance to redemption. William Elliott did not deserve to die over having consensual sex with a teenager only shy of two lousy weeks, the age of consent. I donâÂÂt know much about the other victims story, but neither did he deserve to die. These individuals are in no compassion, the most heinous rapists/ murderers, as those who killed Megan Kankakee. I donâÂÂt care what anyone thinks. This registry was originally implemented to protect children and families, but now all it does is more harm than good!
I agree! ThatâÂÂs why this registry needs to be abolished! The real predators/ rapists should never be released from prison. And that Monster, Marshall , what a coward!! He knew he would never see the light of day if he were caught. In contrast, The non-violent offenders, that hadnâÂÂt, in any way, committed a crime that involved a child, deserve the chance of redemption after theyâÂÂve already served their time. And definitely not deserving of a death sentence, as the tragic loss of William Elliott along with the other registrant. Unlike these sensational cases which caused public outrage, resulting in this evil registry, are extremely rare, i.e, as that of the stranger who raped and murdered Megan Kanka.
No comparison to that of William Elliott who had a consensual sexual relationship with a teenager, only 2 weeks shy of the age of consent. Was he capable of a heinous crime? Or the boy who needed to take a leek behind a tree when his bladder was full? I think not!
Exactly!
Damn shame
I agree! ThatâÂÂs why this registry needs to be abolished! The real predators/ rapists should never be released from prison. And that Monster, Marshall , what a coward!! He knew he would never see the light of day if he were caught. In contrast, The non-violent offenders, that hadnâÂÂt, in any way, committed a crime that involved a child, deserve the chance of redemption after theyâÂÂve already served their time. And definitely not deserving of a death sentence, as the tragic loss of William Elliott along with the other registrant. Unlike these sensational cases which caused public outrage, resulting in this evil registry, are extremely rare, i.e, as that of the stranger who raped and murdered Megan Kanka.
No comparison to that of William Elliott who had a consensual sexual relationship with a teenager, only 2 weeks shy of the age of consent. Was he capable of a heinous crime? Or the boy who needed to take a leek behind a tree when his bladder was full? I think not!
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