Sex Offender Moved Out of Dumpster, Got Arrested
Homeless sex offender Charles Mader was arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico recently after failing to notify authorities that he had moved from a neighborhood dumpster bin to an abandoned house nearby.
It's a strange story centered on a serious sex offender registry law.
Mader was convicted in 2000 for trying to rape a 6-year-old boy. After his release, he had nowhere to go. His official address is listed as a dumpster on the corner of 8th and Central in Albuquerque.
As a registered sex offender, Mader is required to notify authorities whenever he moves. Authorities began to look for Mader when they realized that he had not been in the dumpster for a while, according to The Daily Mail.
Five officers eventually tracked Mader down to a homeless shelter in the area, reported The Daily Mail. Mader told the officers that he had moved out of the dumpster and was now residing in an abandoned building. Mader was arrested.
Officials said that police and authorities have repeatedly explained the sex offender registration requirements to Mader. This is the third time he has not complied with the requirements, and is now facing up to 3 years in jail. He had previously broken a requirement that he re-register with a correct address every 90 days, according to The Daily Mail.
While Mader's situation is not the norm, most states require sex offenders to register with a correct address. In some jurisdictions, sex offenders cannot legally live close to certain facilities such as schools, playgrounds, or parks.
The registration information can be used for law enforcement purposes, or in some cases, may be released to the public. For example, the California Department of Justice has provided public access to part of its registry, which includes personal addresses of some offenders.
If registered sex offenders violate the statutes, they might be facing the same punishment as Charles Mader - a potential prison sentence.
Related Resources:
- Sex Offender Arrested After Moving Out of Dumpster He Called Home (ABA Journal)
- Homeless sex offender arrested for failing to notify police he moved out of dumpster (Star-Telegram)
- Sex Offenders and Sex Offenses (FindLaw)
- Sex Offenders After Prison: Sex Offender Monitoring (FindLaw's Blotter)