Seneca Sex Offenders Put On Notice

Seneca County sex offenders are getting their thirty days’ notice. According to Sheriff Leo Connolly and County Attorney Steven Getman, beginning November 1, the county will begin notifying Level 2 and 3 sexoffenders that the county’s new residency restrictions are in effect.The restrictions, which were passed by the Board of Supervisors in September, prohibit Level 2 and 3 sex offenders from living within 500 feet of any place where children congregate, such as a camp, day care center, park, playground or school.During the next month, Connolly’s office will begin serving notice of the new law on all Level 2 and 3 sex offenders in the county. Underthe law, violators will have thirty days to move and another fifteen to prove to the sheriff that they have relocated.Those sex offenders who don’t obey the new law are subject to fines and imprisonment, Getman said. Each days’ violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to $2500.00, together with a sentence ofimprisonment of up to fifteen days per offense, he noted.In addition to residency restrictions, the local law bans Level 2 and 3 offenders from entering into county-owned parks, Getman said.Under the local law, if a sex offender is renting property in a restricted area, they will be allowed to stay until their lease is up but not be allowed to renew it. There are also exemptions for homeownerswho bought their homes before the law.Connolly said that his officers would notify potential offenders by either certified mail or personally delivery. Copies of the law would also be sent to other police agencies and to area schools he said.Before the law could go into effect, the County had to file it with the New York Secretary of State. On Tuesday (October 31), the County received notice that the law had been filed.The complete text of the local law is available on the County’s website: http://www.co.seneca.ny.us/