Residents worried before Groene case

Even before the world knew the Wolf Lodge killings and kidnappings were linked to a violent sex offender, Kootenai County residents had concerns about child molesters living in their neighborhoods.

This spring 140 Coeur d’Alene residents signed a petition asking the city council to do something about two registered sex offenders living in a house just blocks away from an elementary school and a middle school.

In Post Falls, some parents became outraged when they learned a Ponderosa Elementary School teacher was married to a sex offender – a man who often visited the school. One mother pulled her daughter out of the school.

These instances prompted locals to flood state lawmakers with calls, questioning whether Idaho’s sex offender laws needed changing. The Groene case has intensified the public’s demand for a review.

In response, Kootenai County legislators and law enforcement officials are having a closed-door meeting Aug. 24 to discuss if any changes are warranted.

Deputy Attorney General Bill von Tagen will attend the brainstorming session and advise the group on the legality of any proposed changes.

Post Falls Police Chief Cliff Hayes is organizing the event, which he said will likely result in additional meetings open to the public.

He wants the first event closed, so the people “in the business” of making and enforcing laws can have an open conversation. Hayes anticipates about 30 people will get invitations to participate.

“We don’t want people to remain silent because of the fear of having to read the next day in the paper about what their idea may have been,” Hayes said.

After the meeting, von Tagen and Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, will brief the public and media.

“People need to understand that local legislators are looking at the issue,” Hayes said.

The Spokesman-Review