See the video at the link above.
08/25/2011
Ruling In Case Of [name withheld] To Impact Other Cases
A district judge's ruling that 60 sex offenders no longer have to register could impact hundreds of other sex offenders.
A ruling on the case of [name withheld] will benefit 60 others. Court documents indicate that he was convicted in Texas in 1992. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was not required to register as a sex offender.
He moved to Oklahoma and was eventually charged with failing to register. [name withheld]'s lawyers are fighting for his rights, and -- on Wednesday -- they won.
[name withheld]'s attorney, David Slane, said the order will effectively remove 50 to 60 sex offenders all with the stroke of a pen. Slane said everybody who has completed the required 10-year registration is off the list if they have a case before 1999.
The judge also ruled that if you're from out of state and you come to Oklahoma, you must register for 10 years from the time you arrive if your case is before 2007.
- This only makes since for those currently required to register. If they are off registration in another state, or never had to register, regardless of the date, it's additional (ex post facto) punishment.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections plans to file an injunction. Ultimately, this will be decided by the Supreme Court.
