Court orders could hasten sex offenders’ status change
As many as 2,000 to 3,000 Oklahoma registered sex offenders may be entitled to have their names removed from the sex offender registry under a state Su- preme Court opinion issued Tuesday, says Oklahoma City defense attorney David Slane.
“I think it’s a landmark opinion,” said Slane, who estimates he has sued the Oklahoma Department of Corrections about 450 times on behalf of sex offenders who believe they are wrongfully listed on the registry.
There currently are about 7,700 names on the registry.
Essentially, the court ruling said Corrections Department officials have been violating the Oklahoma Constitution by retroactively applying state sex offender laws, thereby dramatically increasing the time many convicted sex offenders must remain listed on the registry.
Rejoicing in Tuesday’s ruling was convicted sex offender Brad Crawford, 58, of Oklahoma City.
“It means a lot to me. It gives
rance. Slane said he expects
“One of my students the Corrections Departjust grabbed me and me freedom. It takes a ment to act fairly quickly hugged me,” he said. “She monkey off my back,” said to remove from the regislooked at me and looked Crawford, who was contry the names of the 400 in my eyes and told me victed in 1998 in Canadian or so sex offenders with it’s ok Mr. Ayres. We are County on a charge of lewd court orders. Others may going to be OK. or indecent proposals/acts have to wait longer, he
“She was a hero to me to a child. “I’m tired of said, adding that he beand there were so many dealing with them and lieves 2,000 to 3,000 conother heroes that day just their harassment.” victed sex offenders ultihelping each other.” Crawford lamented that mately may be entitled to
Ayres said that is part being listed on the registry have their names removed. of the message he wants limits offenders from livJerry Massie, spokesto get across while on his ing where they want and man for the Corrections trip to Kentucky. He watching their grandkids’ Department, said departwants people to know baseball games. Registered Corrections Department officials are discussthat Oklahomans are sex offenders are not alment officials used that ing the Court’s ruling and going to be OK, but that lowed to live close to new law to retroactively expect to post something they will need help getschools, playgrounds or liincrease Crawford’s time on the agency’s website ting back on their feet. censed child care centers. on the sex offender regiswithin the next day or two,
“People have lost evSlane said Crawford’s try. Slane said he sued on explaining how the deerything,” he said. crime was peeking over the Crawford’s behalf and obpartment will comply with “Hopefully this will be a top of a tanning booth. He tained a court order to have the decision. great opportunity to let said Crawford thought he Crawford’s name removed Preliminary discussions people know we are trywas sneaking a peek at a from the registry, but said have centered on departing restore everything, woman, which might have corrections officials dement officials reviewing but also get info out there brought misdemeanor clined to act on the court the registry and removing that we still need help.” peeping Tom charges. The order, pending the state the names of sex offenders
Selensky said the op“woman” turned out to be Supreme Court appeal who appear to qualify unportunity to enjoy somea 15-year-old girl who was that was decided Tuesday. der the court’s ruling. thing like a NASCAR race a day shy of her 16th birthSlane estimated that he Massie said no time feels like a return to norday, so Crawford was conhas obtained more than frame has been established mal. victed of the more severe 200 court orders in recent for such a review, but it
“When you get orgafelony charge of lewd acts years directing the removal “might take a month or nizationsso.”like NASCAR with a child, Slane said. of individuals’ names from and Feed The Children “He did something he the sex offender registry, At the end of the procrecognizing you, it is shouldn’t have done,” but said the Corrections ess, sex offenders who bereally cool,” she said. “It Slane said. Department has been relieve they were wrongfully really rewards your faith Crawford originally refusing to act on them, kept on the registry could in humanity. You can be ceived a five-year suspending the Supreme ask to have their cases reso down in the crud that’s pended sentence, except Court’s decision. He estiviewed, he said. around you but then for 30 days in the Canamated another 200 similar Slane said he believes something like this hapdian County jail. He also court orders were issued department officials will pens and you get to see was placed on the sex ofon behalf of sex offenders drag their feet and offendhow good people are. We fender registry for 10 years. represented by other aters may have to go to court are thankful.” Slane said he believes torneys. to assert their positions. that punishment should have been adequate.
However, before the 10 years was over, the Oklahoma Legislature passed new laws in 2007 that created a three-tiered risk level assessment system. The law required convicted sex offenders to be placed on the sex offender registry for 15 years, 25 years, or life, depending on their assessment levels.
Applying new laws