Apparent Vigilante Working B'ham
It looks like Bellingham might be experiencing the dark side of sex offender registration. Published names, addresses and descriptions of their crimes makes these ex-cons targets for any would-be Batmen out there. Three such offenders were paid a visit over the weekend by what appears to be a FauxBI agent who allegedly alerted them that one of the men was listed on a web site hit-list before killing two of the roommates. The third roommate left for work before the killings and has provided a description to the police.
Washington state was one of the first to develop databases of sex offender addresses and Bellingham provides the specific address of the offender. Most counties in the state provide less detailed information.
From the Seattle Times:
John La Fond, a lawyer who fought the notification law on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union, said posting sex offenders' addresses "almost becomes a confession by the state that they cannot keep the society safe from harm, and invites society to take matters into its own hands."In researching a 2005 book on notification laws, he found dozens of assaults and harassment against sex offenders. Eisses and Vasquez, he said, may be the first deaths.
Don Pierce, head of the police-chiefs association, said the case will renew the debate on publishing sex offenders' addresses.
"I think there are risks and this may prove to be an example of one of those risks," said Pierce. "I also think the public and Legislature have said there's a risk to the general public if they don't know with specificity where a sex offender lives."
The Washington State Sex Offender Information Center is here, but keep in mind, "DUE TO THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF THIS INFORMATION, ACTIVITY ON THIS SITE IS MONITORED." They are watching the watchers.
