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Zephyrhills keeps buffer at 1,000 feet for now

A proposed ordinance would require sex offenders to live 2,500 feet from schools and other places that kids frequent.

By LAURA LEBEAU
Published June 14, 2006

ZEPHYRHILLS - After hearing from a number of residents, including a sex offender, City Council members postponed action Monday on a proposal to further limit where sex offenders may live.

The proposed ordinance would require sex offenders to live at least 2,500 feet from schools, school bus stops, churches, day care centers, public parks, playgrounds and public libraries. The current limit is 1,000 feet.

Mayor Cliff McDuffie opposed the measure.

"I despise these people. I do not think extending 1,500 feet will keep them from doing what they want," McDuffie said. "By doing this, you're saying, 'You can't live in the city of Zephyrhills.' If you're going to do that, why not drug pushers, etc? It's up to law enforcement to take care of this and keep them in jail. Don't let them back on the street."

Council member Luis Lopez agreed, citing research that shows that extending the distance doesn't necessarily prohibit offenses.

"Sexual offender is a wide category," Lopez said.

He said the ordinance was written too generally. He would prefer the draft to be aimed at the more dangerous category of sexual predator.

Council member Danny Burgess supported increasing the distance and said he felt better "knowing that a sexual offender can't sit on his porch watching little girls on the playground.

"I understand they have rights and are human beings, but I also understand that they've violated other people's rights."

Council member Kent Compton, who introduced the discussion at the last council meeting, asked City Attorney Joseph Poblick about the ordinance. Poblick thought this ordinance would pass a constitutional test but said the proposed 2,500-foot distance would practically eliminate people from moving to Zephyrhills.

Police Chief Russell Barnes said school bus stop locations are always changing and that including them in the ordinance would be an "administrative nightmare." As more areas are excluded, he said, increasing justification would be required to avoid challenges to the ordinance, which he hoped to avoid.

"I agree with residency restrictions," Barnes said. "The issue is: Where can they go when they're away from home?"

Unless prohibited specifically by their probation conditions, sexual offenders can go anywhere they want, Barnes said.

"Thus far, we've had no issues with the sexual offenders living in the city limits that we know of," he said.

Registered sex offender Lonnie Borton gave an emotional, personal account of how the new law would affect people like him - those who he said may not be guilty. He lives and works in the city.

"I walk around every day with a target on my back," he said.

Borton said he was falsely accused and forced into a plea bargain and had to register as a sexual offender.

"All it takes is an accusation," he said. "And that's what happened to me. I'm not a person who's ever done this."

With no decisions finalized and many questions to be answered, City Manager Steve Spina suggested tabling the issue until more information is gathered from other law enforcement agencies about how such ordinances are handled.

In other news, Blanche Benford, president of the Black Caucus of Pasco County, announced that the annual Juneteenth ceremonies will be held Friday through Monday throughout Zephyrhills. The festivities are part of the civic organization's efforts to mark the proclamation for the freeing of slaves June 19, 1865.

Events include a Miss Juneteenth Pageant on Friday, a barbecue at Zephyr Park with choirs performing Saturday, an Elvis impersonator and a "battle of the drums" with local high school bands competing. A poetry workshop Monday at Alice Hall rounds out the events.

"It is our mission to keep alive the hopes and dreams of freedom in America," Benford said.

Kerry Barnett, acting assistant chief of the Zephyrhills Fire Department, recognized volunteer Gordon Hood as Firefighter of the Year 2005 for his dedication and service to the department and the community.

[Last modified June 14, 2006, 07:32:24]