As parents helped get their kids to school Wednesday morning in Washington, a group of about 10 people held up signs outside of a registered sex offender’s home. The house is near the middle school. Signs read “Save our children” and “Warning: child molester lives here!”

These concerns were voiced at a recent Washington City Council meeting. Washington Police Chief Jim Lester explained that not all registered sex offenders have residency restrictions that would not allow them to live within a certain distance of a school, “A sex offender has a residency restriction if they are convicted of what is termed an aggravated offense against a minor. And the sex offender that was mentioned at the city council meeting has a conviction of lascivious acts with a child, however that does not meet the definition of an aggravated offense against a minor. Therefor the registered sex offender on South 4th, as well as the other seven registered sex offenders that live in Washington, do not have a residency restriction.” He said this specific man is on lifetime supervision by the department of corrections.

Registered sex offenders report to the sheriff’s office on a schedule, once, twice, or four times each year. The sheriff’s office communicates these locations to the city police department and school district officials.

Lester said the protest Wednesday morning was within the law, “They were not obstructing traffic. I did not see any signs personally that had any threats or anything like that. You know, that is one word of caution that I did mention at the council meeting, that any action taken against anyone on the registry including vandalism, verbal or written threats to harm or physically assault that person, their family, or their employer could result in criminal charges. However, what was taking place this morning was, in my opinion, it was legal.”

Lester encourages parents to have conversations with their children about being safe. He says to use age-appropriate language to discuss not talking to strangers, and don’t go in a stranger’s vehicle or home.