By LOIS . . . As the North Carolina Mountain State Fair re-opens this week, one group of citizens will be denied admittance because of restrictions imposed by NCGS § 14-208.18 pushed through the Legislature in 2017 (after a previous version of the same law was held unconstitutional in Does v. Cooper). The newer legislation prohibits anyone whose name appears […]

NC should stop creating bad SO laws; set example for nation

By DAVID FEIGE . . . This month the Supreme Court will have a rare opportunity to correct a flawed doctrine that for the past two decades has relied on junk social science to justify punishing more than 800,000 Americans. Two cases that the court could review concern people on the sex offender registry and the kinds of government control […]

Supreme Court’s sex offender rulings are polluted by false facts

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SMITHFIELD, N.C.  – Sex offenders are already prohibited from living near schools, but Johnston County is considering completely banning them from campus. That includes parents of students at the schools if they are on the sex offender registry. The proposed policy permits parents on the registry to participate in parent-teacher conferences, provided they receive advance written approval of the school’s […]

Johnston Cty school board to adopt policy that’s already state law

WILMINGTON, N.C. — A former Carolina Beach police officer was sentenced Monday to 10 to 17 years in prison for a string of sex assaults in New Hanover and Brunswick counties, authorities said. Joseph Adam Silva, 31, pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree sexual offense, two counts of second degree rape, three counts of sexual servitude of an adult […]

Carolina Beach cop gets light sentence for violent sex assaults

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By ROBIN VANDERWALL . . . In one of the most poorly cobbled epistles of opinion these eyes have beheld, the Roanoke Rapid Daily Herald‘s editorial staff has decided that something really must be done to close a “loophole” (it’s always a loophole, isn’t it?) in North Carolina’s sex offender registration statutes. A Daily Herald editorial claims that current law […]

Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald suggests 24-hour registration window

By DAVID BOOTH . . . On June 19, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed the value of social media as a pervasive news source and a socially ingrained forum for exchanging communications when it struck down an overreaching North Carolina statute. The North Carolina law under consideration made it a felony for any person on the sex […]

Sex offenders have First Amendment right to Internet, social media

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A CBC Editorial . . . It is becoming all too familiar. If it’s Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court will declare another North Carolina law unconstitutional. It’s no joke. This most recent Monday a UNANIMOUS Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a 2008 law that banned convicted sex offenders visiting social-networking websites that allow minors to become members or to create personal […]

WRAL, Capitol Broadcasting blast General Assembly’s unconstitutional habits

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By ROBIN VANDERWALL . . . In a broadly worded opinion penned by Justice Kennedy, a unanimous Supreme Court has closed the door on laws restricting access to the internet and social media forums by Americans who were convicted of a crime but who are no longer serving a criminal sentence. In reversing the N.C. Supreme Court’s decision in Packingham […]

SCOTUS slaps NC Supreme Court, unanimously strikes social media ban

By STEVEN YODER . . . Last week, an Oregonian article disclosed that Oregon State University Beavers ace pitcher Luke Heimlich had been found responsible at age 15 of sexually molesting a 6-year-old relative. Heimlich’s offense was serious. So was his punishment given that he was underage. He got two years’ probation, with the threat of 40 weeks in detention […]

Incongruous outcomes in baseball: Luke Heimlich v. Matt Bush

By DAVID BOOTH . . . Luke Heimlich made headlines this week after a missed registration deadline presented the Oregonian with an opportunity to revisit his past misdeed. Until his past was dredged up, Luke, a rising college baseball player, was slated to be a first day pick for the major league amateur draft. Predictably, there was immediate backlash with […]

One Strike and You’re Out: Is Redemption Possible for Luke Heimlich?

By SANDI ROZEK . . . In a recent book club discussion group, as a preface to our next assigned selection, the leader read Zechariah 9:16 and opened a discussion about how every human life has value and is seen by its creator as a precious jewel and a treasure. The discussion continued as he challenged us to think of […]

America’s game: Eternal recrimination and shame

By JAMIE MARKHAM . . . Under G.S. 14-208.16, a registered sex offender may not reside “within 1,000 feet of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located.” What’s the right way to measure those 1,000 feet? As the crow flies? Property line to property line? Building to building? The statute is susceptible […]

A thousand feet from where, officer?