Nearly two-dozen sex offenders living near UW sororities

[Jill1228]

http://www.komotv.com/news/10326767.html

This is some scary shit!

Nearly two-dozen sex offenders living near UW sororities


Story Updated: Oct 8, 2007 at 6:48 PM PDT
By KOMO Staff
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SEATTLE - The University of Washington recently found out just how many sex offenders live near students, with some living just blocks from sorority houses.

Some students who live in the U-District north of 45th Avenue checked and found nearly two-dozen registered sex offenders -- some of them level 3 -- live in the area.

"It's a little weird, but they have to live somewhere I guess," said student Eileen Moreland. "Better here than next to an elementary school, I suppose."

The registered sex offenders in question live in five houses run by the same landlord who has an agreement with the Department of Corrections.

Moreland said she had no idea the sex offenders were in the area until her friends told her.

"Well maybe at least send us letters and let us know they're in this area," Moreland said. "I heard by rumor, but no one has ever contacted or let us know so it'd be nice to hear from the school."

University officials say they will contact parents and students very shortly to let them know where the sex offenders are.

As to why they're just being notified now?

"We just recently found out of their presence," said Eric Godfrey, the Vice Provost for Student Life at the UW. He added it was possible to notify students sooner, but they wanted to take time to get a clear fix of what was happening.

"Bottom line, we think our students should be aware of this presence as should their parents and we will be reaching out to notify them very soon," Godfrey said.

Godfrey says university officials went as far as the governor's mansion to get 13 sex offenders removed from the area. And Governor Christine Gregoire has since ordered the DOC not to refer registered sex offenders to those houses anymore.

In the meantime, you can search the King County Sheriff's sex offender database Web site to see where registered sex offenders live. You'll find the site at www.metrokc.gov