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Rell Seeks Closure Of Sex Offender Loophole
Offenders Can Change Names Without Notice, Police Say
POSTED: 6:16 pm EST February 8,
2008
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Sex offenders who change their names better make sure they report their new names.In November, the Channel 3 I-Team discovered a man who police said eluded registering with authorities as a sex offender by changing his name.
The governor proposed on Wednesday that the state toughen laws dealing with sex offenders."One simple fix I am proposing is to bar offenders from legally changing their names to escape police attention or to avoid registration," Gov. Jodi Rell said in her State of the State budget address on Wednesday. "We feel that it is very important that the public has every bit of information that is available to them."In November, the I-Team reported sex offender Khadafi Castro changed his name while he was in prison. When he got out, none of his neighbors in greater Hartford had any idea he was living nearby because he listed himself on Connecticut's Sex Offender Registry as Davon Bailey, which was his former name.Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Len Besthoff reported no one really knew about Castro until South Windsor police pulled him over during a traffic stop last spring.When dispatchers ran a detailed background check on Castro, police said officers arrested him for failing to keep his sex offender registration current."This legislation appears to close those loopholes, make it easier to identify people and there will be some absolutes that we'll know who we're dealing with and what they're conviction record is," South Windsor police Sgt. Scott Custer said.The governor also proposed that sex offenders have a special imprint on their driver's licenses. Besthoff said early indications are that idea may meet some resistance.
Previous Stories:
- November 2, 2007: Sex Offender Changes Name
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