Tragedy Puts Projected Measure In Motion

The murder of Rachel Carver might have been prevented.

What makes so many people angry about this case is that Jason Wickenhagen, who shared custody of Rachel and has been charged with her murder, recently had been convicted of attempted rape. Instead of being locked up, or even being restricted from having custody of his niece, Wickenhagen was free to live at home while awaiting sentence.

Currently nothing in state law prevents a sex offender from living with children.

Unfortunately, it sometimes takes a horrible tragedy like this for sex-offender laws to be toughened. I hope a measure I’m working on will recieve prompt action in Olympia next year.

The measure would imprison sex offenders immediately after conviction. It would eliminate the chance for offenders to rape or murder while they await sentencing.

It also would prohibit newly convicted sex offenders who aren’t jailed from immediately returning to homes with young children, adopting foster children or becoming legal guardians for minors.

This bill wouldn’t infringe on the constitutional rights of those arrested on sex-crime charges. The measure would affect only those already convicted. xxxx

This sidebar appeared with the story: Sterk represents the 4th Legislative District in the Washington state House of Representatives.