Women Picket Outside Home Of Sex Offender

Five women protested silently Saturday afternoon outside the home of a teenage sex offender released recently in Spokane.

“People need to be aware, to protect our children so they don’t become harmed or damaged,” said Shirley Pippenger, who lives on East Hartson, near the home of Patrick C. Riggs, 19.

Riggs finished serving time for a child molestation conviction six months ago. The public was not notified of his release then because he was not at high risk to re-offend. But recently, Riggs admitted to authorities he might commit the same crimes again.

The women carried signs that said: “Stand up for the safety of our women and children,” and “Protect the children, not the molester,” as they walked back and forth in front of Riggs’ home.

When Riggs’ mother arrived at the house, she asked the protesters to leave and called the police when they refused. Police officers supported the protesters’ right to demonstrate on the public sidewalk.

“I would really appreciate people leaving us alone,” Riggs’ mother said. “I really have nothing to say.”

The protesters said they don’t want to harm Riggs’ family, but they don’t want a sex offender in a neighborhood with six bus stops, a day-care and a community center all nearby. Children live in most of the houses, Pippenger said.

“I would hate to think he’d have to re-molest before something can be done about it,” she said.

One of the women protesting was an 18-year-old Lewis and Clark High School student who said she knew Riggs because he graduated from LC last year.

Riggs seemed like an average guy and even dated a friend’s sister, said Amy Hattenburg. “He’s in (that family’s) pictures, family photos,” she said. When she found out about Riggs, she was in a “state of shock all night.”

Still, she added, “I leave at 6:30 to go to school in the morning and I don’t want to worry about some guy running around.”