Posted on 06/07/2002 9:27:04 AM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Residents target convicted murderer
When Chris Swarthout looks out the window of her teen-age daughters' bedroom, she is terrified.
It's been that way for almost a month, ever since convicted murderer and child molester Robert Alfiero, 50, became her neighbor in the Hamburg Hills/Coventry Woods mobile home park in Hamburg Township.
"We can see his bedroom window from my girls' bedroom window," said Swarthout, who has two teen-age daughters. "And it scares me to death."
Swarthout is now among a group of residents who are petitioning to have the man thrown out of the park on the grounds that he is a public nuisance.
"I think he is a dangerous individual with criminal psychopathic tendencies, and people would be well-advised to keep an eye on him and to keep their children far away from him," said Macomb County Prosecutor Carl Marlinga, who lost a battle to put Alfiero away for life in 2000.
Instead, the repeat offender is on probation until August 2003 after serving just one year in the Macomb County jail for a child sexual assault conviction involving his own 5-year-old daughter.
Alfiero pleaded no contest to one count of second degree criminal sexual conduct in Macomb County's 39th District Court in Roseville; a second charge against him for the same crime was dropped.
Alfiero's first offense took place in 1972 when he was convicted of second-degree murder in the Wayne County court system.
ConAlfiero plea-bargained to a lesser charge of second degree murder after first pleading insanity to the initial first degree murder charge.
News reports of the murder stated Alfiero strangled 13-year-old Kevin Urbanowicz of Allen Park with two neckties -- the first one snapped off -- after the youngster reportedly refused Alfiero's sexual advances. Police found Urbanowicz's body in a metal storage box the day after he was last seen.
Alfiero was issued a 15-30 year prison sentence but was discharged in 1983 after serving nine years in jail, two years on parole and some time in a mental institution.
"He was a beneficiary of a crowded prison system," Marlinga said.
Alfiero reportedly admitted to the crime in a 14-page confession, according to 1999 newspaper reports.
"He would write stories about that case," said Marlinga. "We had some of that in evidence that we were hoping to put in, to show that he wasn't at all rehabilitated."
Marlinga said his attempts to get a life sentence for Alfiero for the assault of his daughter were derailed due to the victim's age and her inability to properly testify.
"The problem was the victim was simply too young to be able to consistently testify about the criminal activity," he said.
About 50-60 people have signed a written petition to have Alfiero removed from Hamburg Hills; they fear he is dangerous.
"I'm upset that he could murder a child again," said Swarthout's neighbor Debbie Enterkin, a mother of four young children. "It could be mine."
Enterkin said she and other residents have confronted Alfiero about his criminal past, but that he refuses to leave.
"He said that he's paid his debt to society and that we should leave him alone," she said.
"It boils down to me and my family, who were here first -- we don't have to accept him here," Enterkin said. "If we accept one, we have to accept the rest if they want to move into our neighborhood."
Attempts to reach Alfiero before press time were unsuccessful.
Residents who move into the subdivision sign a contract with a clause that warns of eviction if they are found to be a public nuisance, Enterkin said.
Hamburg Hills owner Jerry Ruggirello is aware of the petition but would not comment on any specific action his Novi-based company, AJR Development, plans to take.
"I'm definitely concerned about it," he said. "I'm in the process of reviewing our legal options and we will take the necessary appropriate steps."
Enterkin said she and Swarthout initially learned of Alfiero's criminal past from a Hamburg Township police officer who notified them. The two then began circulating fliers in and around the mobile home park to notify residents.
"Nobody in our neighborhood knew he was there," she said.
Hamburg Township Police Lt. Eric Calhoun said his force is aware of Alfiero's presence in the neighborhood. They are deeply concerned about the matter; however, unless Alfiero violates the law or the conditions of his probation, there is little that can be done.
"Obviously a convicted sex offender in any neighborhood is a matter of concern," Calhoun said. "But in order for the police (to take action), there has to be some kind of alleged violation of the law and we have no violation of the law at this point."
I hope all of you in Hamburg got your guns(and there are a LOT of them there) ready since it's obvious the system don't work with this guy.
I do take a small issue with the lady complaining about his living next door. He has been there for a MONTH yet she doesnt provide a single thing he has done to show he is a nusiance or a menace. So her daughters window faces his. Big deal. Put up blinds, or move her to another room if it bothers you that much.
Granted, this guys prison terms should have been a lot longer than they were. Thats one of the big problems with our courts and jails. They have revolving doors on them. But I agree with the guy, he served his time and should be left alone.
Once he does something, the residents should treat him appropriately.
IMO she doesn't have to provide a thing. Alfiero has proven himself a menace, and unfit for human society.
News reports of the murder stated Alfiero strangled 13-year-old Kevin Urbanowicz of Allen Park with two neckties -- the first one snapped off -- after the youngster reportedly refused Alfiero's sexual advances.... the repeat offender is on probation until August 2003 after serving just one year in the Macomb County jail for a child sexual assault conviction involving his own 5-year-old daughter.
That's part of the problem. HE ALREADY HAS DONE SOMETHING!!!!
while a stretch, should ones drivers license be terminated because of a speeding conviction? The have already shown a propensity to speed and they might do it again.
Your complaints should be directed at the justice system for its revolving doors and its failure to keep this guy in jail for the full term of his sentences.
He hasn't, actually, inasmuch as he's still on probation. Here's one for the "the police will protect you" crowd. Let them live next door to him.
It is worth noting that the State can require sex offenders to register with their local police departments, which is a blatant admission that the State believes this person to be a threat but is powerless to do anything about it. Once the State is willing to make an admission like that, any pontificating on your part about the sanctity of the legal system is pretty pointless.
I'm not suggesting he should go back to jail -- he should just move someplace where people don't mind having a murdering child molester next door.
He will pay his dues when he is rotting in hell. This monster murdered a 13 year old boy in a sex crime. The real crime is that he is walking the streets. The judge in that case should be tarred and feathered.
If I was a two time loser, that's NOT the area where I would move to. A lot of 'roughnecks' out there(There's a reason why a Ted Nugent Fundraiser with Posthumus was held near there).
And now he's made the papers. I should bring my box of clays......
One year in jail....it's nice to know that there is someone in a Michigan jail rotting away because he was arrested for growing pot plants in his closet, while this pedophile gets probation after one year in a county jail.....aren't priorites wonderful?
As you've surely seen in recent news stories, a stolen little girl can command the same readership as national security. That's because we're not discussing a credible threat to an inflatable doll here.
Damn, I remember that, I am surprised someone at Jackson State didn't off this POS.....
This is America. We have the right to choose where we live. We are free to live where ever we want as long as we can pay the rent or mortgage on the property. Outside of those 'communist co-ops' in big city appartment buildings that is. Your neighbor didnt get to decide if you moved in next door or not, and I am sure you would have rasied hell if he had tried to prevent you from moving in. No matter if you are gutter trash or an upstanding citizen.
Again, the problem is that the justice system has a revolving door, and this guy seems to be putting grease on the hinges.
This guy is a scum bag. Would I want him living next door to me or in my neighborhood? No. Do i have the legal power to prevent him from moving in or to force him to move out? No.
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