Sex Offender Rule Overturned in South Louisiana

Children, singing the most innocent of songs, could very well get the attention of a sex offender. But Emma Williams, the director of Little Flower Academy on 16th street in Monroe, takes every precaution to keep her 81 children out of harm’s way. Williams says, "These are babies. They cant defend themselves if we dont look out for them who will." Williams and other day care operators are upset with last week’s ruling by an appeals court. Current law says convicted sex offenders must register for anywhere from 15 years to life. Now, with this new ruling, those who care for children may not know who they’re dealing with. Williams says, "Then he can go off and do whatever he pleases without parents having precautions. You have to know who your children are around." The three judge panel in southern Louisiana says the sex offender at issue fulfilled his duty to register for ten years, the legal standard at the time. Therefore, the judges say he’s paid his debt to society. LaShonda Birdon-Culpepper says, "I dont want this case to set precedence for other cases." Birdon-Culpepper is the mother of five year old Torrie. She also has an 11 year old daughter. Birdon-Culpepper says, "I need to know so I can keep my daughters safe. With this ruling, I wouldnt be able to do that because I wouldnt know what my neighbors are doing." The district attorney in West Feliciana Parish now has less than 30 days to file paperwork asking the state supreme court to reconsider the judge’s ruling on this case.