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Sex Offender

(Photo Credit: Google Maps)

(HOUSTON) — Some Acres Homes residents were angry and afraid when 23 violent sex offenders moved into their neighborhood last month, but their outrage elicited a response from lawmakers.

The sex offenders moved into a halfway house at 9330 West Montgomery in February, 10 at a time. Soon, we’re told they’ll be moving out, and the halfway house could be closed.

According to KHOU 11, these offenders “have served six to 20 years behind bars for rape, aggravated sexual assault and other serious sex offenses.”

“They groped on themselves, like rub down there and telling me to come and I said, ‘No,’” Joycelynn Williams, Acres resident, said.

People in this neighborhood became afraid for the safety of their families. They began taking precautions like learning how to shoot a gun and not letting children play outside alone.

KHOU 11 reports that residents do not feel at ease being in their own homes with their new neighbors.

The men are locked behind a chain fence, all of them living under one roof. A police substation is across the street, but that still does not comfort neighbors.

“You can see over my fence,” said another woman. “I can’t let [the children] out, not even the front yard. We can’t even rest in our house.”

According to Rep. Sylvester Turner, the offenders shouldn’t be in the house for much longer. And the halfway house might not be there much longer, either.

“There has been an agreement reached with the Office of Violent Sex Offender Management (OVSOM),” Turner said in a statement released Friday. “OVSOM is working on a contract now that will move the Offenders throughout next week. A more permanent placement is being worked on which may take up to 90 days.”

GEO, the company that may provide the alternative placement, has until Monday to commit to the agreement. Turner and Sen. John Whitmire will be providing a more detailed and formal announcement next week.

Turner also said the halfway house had a number of city code violations, which may also force immediate closure of the facility.

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23 Sex Offenders Under One Houston Roof Could be Moved  was originally published on news92fm.com