Sex Offender in a Desert Town

A short piece on Nightline tonight featured a small desert town in California that now seems to live in fear of a so-called "predatory sex offender" who has been placed in their town. His location - a double-wide trailer 50 miles outside of the small town center.

He's on permanent satellite GPS and can only leave his trailer with an escort. He goes out once or twice a week, for therapy and to do some grocery shopping. The remainder of the time, he stays in his trailer, alone, in the middle of the desert.

The town is living in FEAR.

The man is probably in his late 60's, maybe early 70's (reporter Lisa Ling only gave us a bare hint of background, only that he had been convicted of rape and child molestation). The viewer learned nothing about when he was convicted or under what circumstances, but that he had been released from prison in 1997 and had spent the remaining 12 or 13 years in a mental institution - perhaps California's version of civil commitment.

The story did tell us that both his mental health therapist and a judge had approved his release to "freedom." But to the residents of this small desert community, he is Satan in their midst.

I would suggest to the residents of this community, go meet the man. Two or three at a time, go pay him a visit. Ask him to honestly tell you how he is doing. Yes, he may be a sociopath willing to do anything he can to convince you he is no harm to you or your children. Or he may be truly remorseful for his crimes and just trying to spend the remainder of his life on the outside.

But whatever he is and whatever he does, it's best for the community to at least meet the man, to know that he is a human being and not a monster. And, if he is truly remorseful, allowing him to meet you could make all the difference in his rehabilitation, to learn that he might, one day be able to make some kind of life in society.

As paradoxical as it may sound, it would be the safest thing for this desert town. And it would be the moral, compassionate and humane thing to do for this man, even if he is a "monster."