As Buena Park Jessica's Law criminal defense attorneys, we were interested to see a piece about a registered sex offender in an interesting legal situation. According to a May 4 article in the Orange County Register, Eric Hinnenkamp, 45, is a registered sex offender who also owns a Fullerton home left to him by his parents. That home is so close to a park that he is forbidden from living there under Jessica's Law, which places restrictions on the residency of certain sex offenders. However, law enforcement does not believe Hinnenkamp can be barred from owning or visiting his property under the California Constitution. Neighbors upset that Hinnenkamp is still permitted to visit the property crowded into a meeting May 4 at the Fullerton Police Deapartment.
Hinnenkamp's sex offender status comes from a record of sex-related crimes that includes convictions for indecent exposure, sexual battery and child molestation. He also has a conviction for failure to register as a sex offender in 2000. According to a Fullerton police officer, Hinnenkamp must wear a GPS device, which means officers can track his movements consistently. He is registered as a resident of Huntington Beach. However, parole officers have permitted him to visit the Fullerton property from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, which has triggered a backlash from the neighbors. Law enforcement authorities said "residency" is not well defined enough for them to keep Hinnenkamp away, and that Jessica's Law does not give a specific penalty for residency violations. One neighbor complained that authorities are not doing enough to keep Hinnenkamp away, and also that Hinnenkamp is not maintaining the property.
Our San Juan Capistrano Jessica's Law criminal defense lawyers had to laugh at this last complaint. Hinnenkamp would have considerably difficulty mowing the lawn if he is barred from his property at all times, as the neighbor appears to want. More seriously, however, this article illustrates how convoluted and overreaching sex offender laws can be. Critics claim residency restrictions don't work because offenders are unlikely to prey on children during the nighttime hours, when kids are at home with their parents. In fact, areas like South Florida are now easing those restrictions and adding "loitering" laws that forbid offenders from hanging around places like schools during times when children are there. It's also worth mentioning that very strict residency restrictions can push offenders into homelessness and keep them away from loved ones, both of which can negatively affect their efforts to build law-abiding, productive lives.
Howard Law, P.C. defends people accused of violating Jessica's Law, as well as those accused of the offenses that can land them on the registry list to begin with. Sex offender registration requirements are onerous and can last a lifetime. They can also be confusing, especially for people who are newly paroled and new to the requirements. As a result, offenders may end up charged with crimes for actions they didn't know were illegal, further compounding their struggles to get jobs, find apartments and rebuild their lives. Our Moreno Valley Jessica's Law defense lawyers defend people accused of failure to register, violating residency restrictions or other offenses. We also handle related criminal charges for sex offenses, from relatively minor crimes like indecent exposure to serious charges that catch media attention.
If you're accused of a crime related to sex offender status, you need the help of an experienced attorney from Howard Law, P.C.. To set up a free consultation, call us toll-free at 1-800-872-5925 or contact us online.
