So a sex offender was arrested at Lawson McGhee Library this morning, just three days after Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett issued an edict banning all sex offenders from the premises. Some wondered if this was the first test of the new policy, which would be problematic, since pursuant to the actual state law that allows libraries to ban sex offenders, one cannot be be charged with criminal trespass until five days have passed after the library has mailed a letter to the sex offender informing him of the ban - and as of Tuesday afternoon, only two such letters had been sent.
But no worries, y'all! The policy might be unconstitutional, but the arrest today had nothing to do with it. According to Knoxville Police Department spokesperson Darrell DeBusk, the arrest was made because registered sex offender David Michael Jarnigan is an "absconder" - i.e., he hasn't bothered to keep KPD updated with his address, and that is a Class E felony. DeBusk also noted that a second man that the police took into custody at the same time was not a sex offender, just someone the police has been seeking to interview about a different case, and although he was detained for questioning, he has already been released.
So we're sorry, folks. It's gonna be another couple of days before any civil liberties are possibly trampled on. But we'll keep you posted!
Comments » 0
Be the first to post a comment!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.