This past Sunday ( Easter day) afternoon my 10 y/o daughter and 2 y/o Grandson were outside playing on our trampoline. The trampoline is placed in an area that can be clearly seen from my kitchen window so I can keep an eye on them at all times, it is also placed in an area where it can not be seen from any of the nearby roads, the only people that would know it was there are my immediate next door neighbors and it's placed in such a way that even when they look out of their house they wouldn't see it unless they turned to look that way or were out cutting the lawn, we also live in a very quiet neighborhood and are tucked out of the way.
Sunday as the kids were playing my daughter did a back flip on the trampoline and afterwards heard someone clapping, when she turned around she saw a man standing in a secluded spot between a neighbors shed and an area of bamboo that looks to have been broken down to make a small area for him to stand in un noticed.
She grabbed our Grandson, jumped off the trampoline and ran inside the house, when she first got down from the trampoline the man started to walk towards her, when she started running with our grandson he turned around and left.
As soon as she told me what happened I called 911 and 2 deputies from the Wicomico Sheriffs Dept were dispatched, while I stayed here asking questions the other drove around asking a few neighbors that were outside questions and learnt that a man matching the same description my daughter gave was reported loitering in a nearby backyard a week or so ago. The Sheriff that stayed here after taking down the description my daughter gave pulled up some pictures on his computer and she immediately identified one of the men as the one being here, he is a Tier 3 registered sex offender who lives 3 miles from us.
Now get this, he was convicted in 2008, he is now out walking the streets and doesn't even have an anklet, the Sheriff told us that they couldn't arrest him because he hadn't "technically committed a crime" He wasn't trespassing on our property, our neighbors didn't see him on their property ( they were all visiting other family members) though the bamboo is broken down there is no proof that he did it, all they could do was go have a talk with him.
This has left us and our neighborhood very fearful for our children, why are sex offenders of that nature allowed to walk our neighborhoods ? Why is nothing done to keep them behind bars longer ?
A friend contacted Delegate Eckardt and the officer that she has answer those types of concerns called her yesterday, the only information he gave was that these offenders are monitored regularly (every 3 months) and reiterated that there is a sex offender registry that people should use to educate themselves about such people.
I could have looked at that registry all day long and still not seen him standing where he was, this man was clever, he knew exactly where to stand so he couldn't be seen by anyone, he never actually made contact with the kids, he merely clapped and got my daughter's attention.
This could have so easily turned out to have been another Thomas Leggs / Sarah Foxwell type incident.
When are law enforcement and state officials going to stand up and put the innocent lives of our children first and cut down the bureaucratic red tape that protects these sick animals.
Yours,
A very concerned parent in Wicomico County
36 comments:
So sorry this happened to you. Was it in Salisbury area?
The warning signs are appearing and this guy is a time bomb.
The only option is to put them in jail for life.. even though I find them horrible... not sure that is what we should do.
It's an unfortunate situation..
with no real easy answer
The county, state, and law enforcement will never make that stand! My advice to you is to install security cameras on your property! buy one that has a hard drive and records for at least 30 days, then see how many times he shows up checking out your property, then file stalking charges using your tape as proof!
Jail for life? Really?
How about euthanasia?
They are sub human and destroy children's lives if we let them.
Eliminating them is the easy answer and they are the only ones harmed.
No answer PERIOD in the US because we're too busy fixing other countries.The countries we try to fix have much more effective child sex offender laws than we do.
Neighborhood please?
11:54 How about euthanasia?
What do kids in Japan, China, or Korea have to do with anything?! This is a local issue.
Was this in Rustic Acres? A friend of mine put something on Facebook this weekend about a sex offender being spotted walking around that neighborhood. Scary!!
Rustic Acres
Don't cover for this fool, put his name on here
http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/onlineservs/socem/default.shtml
This is the link to the State of MD Sex Offender Registration/Location Page. Here you can find by name, address and other means those that live near you or your loved ones registered as offenders or those that have failed to register.
It is not law enforcement who do not stand up.. It is the judges who continue to let these individuals go free. Deer cameras are excellent tools to use!
Sad thing about the registry is you can look all day at the pictures but you will never be able to remember all the faces. There are so many there is just no way to say hey there is an offender while you are out and about. I agree this is a sad situation that we are faced with these days.
1:25 So are deer rifles! Well, rifles, in general.
Next time fire a few warning shots, he won't come back.
Can't blame law enforcement here, thy are merely that, enforcers of the law, not law makers. Take your anger out on where it counts and you might make some progress.
Thank you for sharing your story so that others can be alert.
I am so sorry this happened to you, but I am very happy you have a smart and brave daughter who instinctively knew what to do and looked out for your grandson, too.
The registry offers a false sense of security...there are many, MANY sex offenders that do not have to register anymore...and many, many, that had started out as sex offenses, but were plead down to a lesser offense,
Why would you even mention "law enforcement"? Love them or hate them, do you really think the cops have anything to do with how long any criminal stays in jail?
There is a registered sex offender that has his address listed as Cedar Hill Park Marina, really?!?! It's ok for a registered sex offender to live at a park that is frequented by many young kids and teens!! Sheriffs office say they can't do anything but that isn't right no matter how you look at it.
WOW..At last real proof that the S.O.L. does NOT work and needs to be done away with. If this is not enough proof it is a waste of money. Think why they do not want to expand to other criminal registries ?? WHY they now know they DO NOT work and are a expense to keep with very little if any value. And another thought. Some on the list is now homeless and living in YOUR backyard . YES if you have woods in your area. Most likely you see tents they are released sex offenders who can't find a job and now are homeless and we do not know where they go all day and what they do and worse part they live in the woods BEHIND your home and you are suppose to feel safe cause we know where they sleep at night..LOL.these nuts in Annapolis really pulled one over your all on creating and expanding the sex offenders list ...WAKE UP these lists does nothing more than spread panic and cause more crime and DOES nothing to protect folks from nothing. Only helps Annapolis in getting votes.
Kill child molesters. There is something off in their make-up. They are useless in society. Its gross to let them out to attack again. Name on list never stops them. Wake up this is an awful world
Unfortunately these individuals are throw in jail for a very short period of time where all they do is plan the next move on a child. These are sick individuals who cannot control their urges in any fashion--and will never be able to. It's hardwired into them. They cannot be rehabilitated. EVER. Once someone higher up gets that, maybe they will find a place in each state for these "people" and confine them to a life of labor and no possibility of parole. They can live out their days serving the public for their crimes against humanity. Til then...look for it to only get worse. Heartbreaking.
I for one say no deals in court for these pervs. The judges are to blame did you see what Biden did in Delaware to that inbred Dupont. They did nothing. Biden shot himself in the foot on that one. People need a voice when it comes to these sex offenders. They do not change. In California they have to go before a panel of Docs and if they dont get cleared they are then sent to a medical facility that is max securtity. They are not released from that unit untill they are deemed not a threat to children. Many never get out. The A.C.L.U. has fought this system for years. It works maybe Maryland should follow suit.
This poster was not blasting the police here. I think she is voicing her concerns as to the weak laws and short sentences.
O.M.G. People stop drinking the Kool-Aid and read the REAL facts that sex offenders in whole has one of the lowest reoffend rates of all offenders. It is easy sitting in your fat easy chair and hearing lies to get your votes and raise your fears. But the funny part is you are watching out for sex offenders when the drug dealers are closing in on your children and feeding them drugs and getting them addicted and then your child is selling their bodies and stealing your items and cash for the drugs and had nothing to do with sex offenders. And we all know that the laws will not change , so would you rather have a x-sex offender working and paying taxes and living in the house near you and or out of work , bleeding the system and living in the woods behind your house and watching every move you make. You all on here are so bloody blind that most could not see the truth if it hit you in the face. And the truth of the Foxwell case is that the nutty mother knew this guy and knew his past and still dated him and allowed him access , so get off that boat and smell the coffee and or push your lying politicians to create more VIOLENT OFFENDER Registries and protect us from all violent offenders. If you killers want to kill , why not kill ALL violent offenders and clean up all crime...
I recommend castration and not the chemical kind.
Was he dressed as a woman? You know the transgender people out there are now looking for your children in the backyard, YMCA, Wawa, and at school. LOL!
put his name up here. it's not illegal and all of the neighbors should know who it is to protect their children.
His name is Erik Steinacker....use google images to get an updated picture of him.
The sex registry is a joke, this man re registered April 9th, they still don't have an updated pic of him on there and according to a police officer his address has changed, the s.o.b now lives in Rustic Acres but the police officer couldn't remember where, another police officer is trying to find out where but so far nothing
3:15 Thanks for proving how useless the Sex Offenders List really is and how it was pushed down our throats by Policticains looking for your vote. The only thing the List shows is where S.O.'s sleep at night really and what does that do. Oh lets not forget it also prevents folks on there from becoming productive citizens again by preventing them from getting good jobs / housing and not being harassed by no-lifers going on list to harass others. So maybe it is time to really look how effective the list is and the costs of it to the citizens.
Mack.... I am 3:15 as well as the author of the original post.
It was only after spending a lot of time this week looking further into things, that I have learnt that the SOL really is a waste of time and it doesn't necessarily have where the S.O sleeps at night, in this case the address on the SOL is incorrect, nothing on there about him other than his hair, eye color, complexion, height and maybe weight are correct.
I'm not all about starting a witch hunt trying to trace down every person on there, as I agree maybe they are remorseful and are trying to get their lives back on track but that is not the case of this man, his probation is now up, he is free to go where he likes, live where he likes, he's a free man and where does he choose to go ? Hide in a neighbors bamboo and watch my daughter and Grandson as they play, my yard isn't one you just happen to pass by, the bamboo isn't something you just stand in to get out of the sun, this man was up to no good plain and simple, my daughter and grandson make up part of the 25% that MD state law doesn't feel need protecting from sexual predators seeings as they only tend to go for kids they are related to or are friends of the family, well that's not the case here at all and it's for these types of scenarios that the laws need to be changed
re: 3:15 He does not live in Rustic Acres at all! He is my neighbor! Wrong guy!!! He was in Delmar the whole day! His house is for sale but he is still there! The cops came to question him! He wasn't there! Where are you getting your information!?! How sad is it that people post stuff on facebook or online before they know the facts! The cops know who the guy is but it's not Erik Steinacker! This poor guy is getting phone calls and threats! Shame on all of you!
8:19am, you want to know who I'm getting this information from ? I'm getting it from the police, not one thing that I have said has been anything other than what they have told me. So if it's shame on anyone it's shame on the police.
re: 8:19 That is not true at all. I am a family member of Mr. Steinacker. He was questioned by the police and has irrefutable proof that he was NOWHERE near your home. There are 10 witnesses to prove this. He is STILL on parole and probation so that is wrong as well! He does NOT live in Rustic Acres either. He has been in contact with the police as well to try to clear his name and they know who it was but they also KNOW it wasn't Mr. Steinacker!!! NOTHING you have said about THIS man is true! This is defamation of character ma'am. I am sure you were concerned for the welfare of your children but you are acting too hastily before you are checking your facts. You ARE creating a witch hunt. This man is being tormented because of your misinformation.
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