One day after being released from state correctional facility, registered sex offender moves 450-feet from local elementary school
Convicted felon also found living dangerously close to UPK program, currently legal due to gaping hole in New York State Penal Law
Klein sponsored legislation would ban sex offenders from residing near UPK programs and strengthen protections for children and families
State Senator Jeff Klein today announced that a registered sex offender, Mark Mercado, released from Gowanda Correctional Facility in western New York has relocated to The Bronx – directly violating state law and moving a mere 449-feet from a special needs elementary school.
What’s more shocking than the speed at which this convicted felon found a new home next to the Biondi Elementary School, is a dangerous loophole in state law that does not place residency restrictions on stand-alone Universal Pre-Kindergarten programs. The sex offender also resides within 950-feet of a stand-alone UPK at the Westchester Tremont Day Care Center, serving 100 local children.
Senator Klein said: “Across New York, we’ve found sex offenders violating their parole, living dangerously close to traditional schools, and more egregiously, right next to our most vulnerable children attending pre-K programs. This is absolutely unacceptable. The legal definition of ‘school’ does not currently prevent registered sex offenders from residing within 1,000 feet of pre-K programs – posing a deadly threat to the safety and security of New York’s families. It’s our duty to protect our children from pedophiles and I strongly urge the State Assembly to pass this important legislation and close this loophole immediately.”
In 2014, Senator Klein introduced legislation (S.1520) that would update New York State Penal Law to prohibit Level 2 and 3 sex offenders from knowingly being within 1,000 feet of a facility where pre-kindergarten or kindergarten instruction is provided. The bill overwhelmingly passed the State Senate in 2014 and 2015. The bill was never moved to the floor for a vote in the Assembly.
Six months ago, the Independent Democratic Conference released a bombshell investigative report “Keeping Our Children Safe From Sex Offenders” which uncovered startling violations of residency restrictions and numerous sex offenders living dangerously close to both traditional and stand-alone UPK programs in New York.
Two of the sexual predators found in that investigation – Michael Nieves and Damon Ford – are already back in prison. Ford violated his parole after police found him purchasing synthetic marijuana. Nieves also violated parole conditions when police were called to his home for a domestic dispute.
SEX OFFENDERS CURRENTLY RESIDING WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IN NEW YORK CITY:
Sex Offenders Residing Within 1,000 ft. of a UPK Program affiliated with a Public School
Name
|
Address
|
Victim Age
|
School
|
Distance From School
|
Bronx
Charles S. Grant
|
1160 Teller Ave, Bronx, NY 10456
|
10-years-old
|
PS 53 Basheer Quisim
360 E 168thSt,
Bronx, NY 10456
|
369 ft.
|
Staten Island
James Randolph
|
St. Elizabeth Ann HC 91 Tompkins Ave, Staten Island, NY 10304
|
9-years-old
|
PS 078 100 Tompkins Avenue,
Staten Island, NY 10304
|
106 ft.
|
Sex Offenders Residing Within 1,000 ft. of a Community UPK Program
Name
|
Address
|
Victim Age
|
School
|
Distance From School
|
Bronx
Ernest W. Clark
|
1265 Fulton Ave, Bronx, NY 10456
|
8,12-years-old
|
Habitot Es
3480 Third Ave.,
Bronx, NY 10465
|
633 ft.
|
Queens
Joel
Navarro |
217-19 110th Ave Top Floor, Queens Village, NY 11429
|
7-years-old
|
St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church 217-55 110th
Ave, Queens Village, NY 11429 |
264 ft.
|
Brooklyn
Arturo Ragler
|
501 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207
|
7-years-old
|
United Community Day Care
613 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 12207
|
898 ft.
|
Angel Rios
|
606 Jerome St.
Brooklyn, New York 11207
|
7, 5-years-old
|
Brightside Academy, 683 Barbey Street, Brooklyn, NY 11207
|
898 ft.
|
Garry
Manson |
32 Rochester Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233
|
7-years-old
|
BCS Atlantic Avenue Early Learning Center
1825 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233
|
580 ft.
|
Mike Montes
|
25 Fairview Place, Brooklyn, NY 11226
|
6, 4-years-old
|
Joan Watkins Corp. DBA Pre-School Minds Day Care Center, 3316-18 Church Street, Brooklyn, NY 11203
|
633 ft.
|
Guillermo Ayala
|
32 Rochester Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233
|
14-years-old
|
BCS Atlantic Avenue Early Learning Center
1825 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233
|
580 ft.
|
In 2009, Senator Klein introduced legislation that created a sex offender email notification system that later became Chapter 478 of New York State Law. The system allows local residents to receive instant email alerts any time a sex offender moves into a selected zip code. The legislation has been hailed by community groups and advocates.
