TRR photo by David Hulse Sullivan County Sheriff Dan Hogue is pictured holding a file of 2001 Sullivan County Level 3 molesters, the most serious offenders in sexual incidents against children. (Click for larger image)

How do you protect your family?

SHORTCOMINGS IN
MEGAN’S LAW

By DAVID HULSE

ELDRED — Hearing that a convicted child molester was moving into Highland, Rose Paolini thought local authorities would be able to confirm or deny details under the provisions of state law.

But Paolini and town officials found out that the 1998 Megan’s Law does not necessarily provide this information and that the town would be required to pay for information provided by the state. The rape-murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka in New Jersey by a convicted child molester whose record was unknown to the family prompted the first registry of convicted molesters developed to notify residents of convicted molesters living in their communities.

Supervisor Allan Schadt said Paolini had asked him to inquire about a former Shohola resident, whose full name Schadt said he never received, who had been imprisoned on charges related to child molestation and was now planning to move back to the area to a residence in Barryville.