Sexual Predator Placement Archive

The state is preparing to present several possible sites for a MULTI-TENANT FACILITY FOR SEXUALLY VIOLENT PERSONS within Milwaukee County on January 25, 2005. The hearing site has yet to be announced, the time is tentatively set for 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

The state commission who is charged with this task is still putting together possible sites along with decisions on whether to release possible addresses prior to the "hearing" on 1/25.

The Franklin City Attorney's office along with me and other aldermen are staying on top of this issue. The work of the committee is done mostly behind closed doors so there's little we can tell you. As a common council, we will be reviewing our opportunities and strategies to protect our children, homes and property values. Of course, I'll keep this web site up to date.

Billy Lee Morford and Robert Carney continue to live in a home on Milwaukee's north side. Last year a judge declared that home unsuitable for permanent placement of Morford. The saga to find an appropriate placement for Morford is documented below and in news articles posted on my "News" page.

To date, the state of Wisconsin is still forming a task force to find a site to construct what in essence may be an apartment building for sexual predators. The legislature has yet to fill all appointments for the task force. Representative Stone and State Senator Lazich have forwarded a recommendation to the leadership to appoint a Franklin man to the task force. That appointment has yet to be made. I'll keep you informed on the progress of that appointment.

Today, the owner of the Oak Creek home tentatively slated to be sold to the state to house sexual predators Robert Carney and Billy Lee Morford has cancelled the offer to purchase. This means that the placement process starts again. At this point, I'm not sure anyone knows what will happen next. We'll stay on top of the situation to protect the safety and quality of life in our community.

Also, I'll be taking a page from the city of Oak Creek and will shortly introduce a change to our zoning laws to prohibit more than two unrelated adults from living in the same dwelling unit. I have asked the City Attorney to draft the appropriate ordinance to close this potential "loop hole" in our ordinances.

Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Richard Sankovitz today accepted the Department of Health and Family Services recommendation to place sexual predator Robert Carney in the same Oak Creek home that Judge Kuhnmeunch has designated for Billy Lee Morford.

The state has yet to purchase the Oak Creek home and the owner of that home has reportedly set Monday as the deadline for the purchase or they'll put the house back on the market.

Judge Kuhnmeunch announced that she has accepted a site recommended by the Geske Siting Sub-Committee to place sexual predator Billy Lee Morford. The site that she announce is one of two recommended by the sub-committee. She has selected a single family home on the end of a dead end street in the city of Oak Creek (445 E. Oak St.). Oak Creek officials are organizing a community meeting scheduled for Monday evening at the Oak Creek Community Center. Here's the Journal-Sentinel article about the placement. Judge Kuhnmeunch may order the home be purchased by the state or announce placement at an undisclosed alternate site this Friday.

Judge Kuhnmeunch will make the two recommended sites public tomorrow (Friday, 6/4/04). She will accept comment through next Friday and then make her placement decision. To date, neither the Acting Chief of Police or the City Attorney have received notice of a potential placement.

Judge Kuhnmeunch receives recommendation for TWO sites and is asked to as well consider the current home where Morford lives. She'll make her decision at a hearing on 6/2 in her courtroom. See below.

Placement decisions will be made NEXT WEEK (6/2/04) on both Billy Lee Morford and Robert Carney.

Judge Mary Kuhnmeunch has two hearings scheduled. One for Friday, 5/28 to receive recommendations from her siting task force and another on 6/2 to potentially announce the site that Morford would be placed. Both hearings will be in her courtroom, room 316 of the Safety Building. The Friday hearing will be at 3:00pm, the Tuesday hearing at 8:30am. Assistant City Attorney David Fleming will attend (but not participate).

Judge Richard Sankovitz will hold a placement hearing for Robert Carney on June 1 at 10:00am in his court, room 506 of the Safety Building. Again, the Assistant City Attorney will attend.

Be aware that criteria dictate that local officials be informed of placement of a sex offender. As of today, Franklin has not been informed of any placement.

The Geske sub-committee will meet today to finalize the list of three potential sites for placement of Billy Lee Morford. They will also discuss the methods that may be used to release the addresses to the public. Again, based on past meetings, it appears that the City of Franklin will not be on the list.

Geske sub-committee to begin final selection of sites for placement of Billy Lee Morford. On 4/8/04 I attended the meeting of the Geske Committee to represent our district as they discussed possible locations to place this sexual predator. Twelve buildings were presented without addresses but did contain broad descriptions of type, accommodations, nearest schools, treatment facilities, etc. The committee then reduced the list to four and are now investigating the purchase of one of these buildings.

I paid particular attention to the details for each of these proposed sites. While I do not have the addresses for them, I'm fairly certain that from the description of these proposed buildings, Franklin and our district are not on the list for placement of Morford. Again, there's no guarantees until Judge Kuhnmeunch makes her decision, but based on the descriptions, Franklin isn't a fit.

I am very concerned, however, that we are being considered for placement of Robert Carney. In a conversation with a District Attorney, placement of Carney was discussed in Judge Sankovitz's Court last week and Franklin came up on several occasions.

It appears that Judge Sankovitz may be less swayed by public opinion on placement of Carney due to Carney's health, age and mental capacity. Carney is 74 and suffers from limphoma and the effects of treatment from that disease.

Another pedophile set to be released into a community soon. Judge appears to be more activist than Kuhnmeunch. Here's the Journal-Sentinel article.

The "Geske Task Force" has formed a sub-committee to recommend no more than ten sites for the task force to then select 3 to present to Judge Kuhnmeunch. They have begun to look at sites. Senator Lazich is one of the site selection sub-committee. The committee is to return to the Task Force with their list on April 8 at the Courthouse. I hope to attend as your Alderman Elect.

On your behalf, I have sent the Honorable Justice Geske a letter relative to the process and Franklin's participation. Read that letter by clicking here. At this point the system is working. As a community we have raised the awareness of the issues. I'll continue to keep you informed on how we can best protect ourselves from placement of sexual predators in our community.

The first meeting of the Morford Task Force was held Wednesday morning at the County Courthouse. Senator Lazich was in attendance. The meeting was not well publicized. Justice Geske has appointed a small sub-committee to find three sites and bring that recommendation back to the next committee meeting on April 8, 2004. I'll have more details shortly.

Here's the CBS 58 WDJT news story broadcast on 2/25: (this is a big WMV file that will start your media player plug in. It will take about 3 1/2 minutes on a dial up connection, less than 45 seconds on a high-speed connection.)

A "public" hearing was held in Madison before the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice on Representative Jeff Stone's proposed bill AB861 on Wednesday morning, 2/25/04.

Franklin was represented at this hearing by State Representative Jeff Stone, State Senator Mary Lazich, Alderman Lyle Sohns, me (Steve Olson), Plan Commissioner Ken Skowronski, former Alderman and Council President Tom Taylor.

The names, districts and e-mail addresses for the members of the committee are in the chart below.

After a lengthy discussion of the provisions of the bill, substantial discussion was held on the clause protecting Franklin through exclusion of communities who have a population greater than 1% incarcerated and are in a county of more than 500,000. That clause caused great controversy with the democrats on the committee, specifically Tony Staskunas and Pedro Colon.

Pedro Colon said "I can give you a million reasons why predators should be housed at the House of Correction."

One other representative commented that they had "received an e-mail from a person from Franklin who compared Franklin to Mayberry, and thank you, their communities were like Mayberry too and shouldn't be home to predators."

Alderman Sohns, myself, Mr. Skowronski and former Alderman Taylor provided written testimony to the committee. Read the text here.

We as well provided comments in response to the statements made about our community. Alderman Sohns stressed to the committee that our concern is for the safety and well being of our children first and foremost.

I pointed out that we are already doing our share with the 2000 prisoners in the house of corrections and that requiring a non-local body to determine the sites for these predators was wrong. I pointed out that if the law was not changed, there is no way for the county or other authority to know that there's Little League baseball diamonds less that a few hundred yards from the predator. That there is a potential school site within 3/4 of a mile. That there are HUNDREDS of children within a half a mile and certainly lots of opportunities for a predator to prey on victims at the numerous sports venues nearby.

I as well responded to Rep. Colon's statement that "the economic or politically disadvantaged will get the placement." I pointed out to the committee that if they do not exempt Franklin and authority goes to the county, that Franklin will most certainly be the next home for sexual predators due to our lack of representation on any siting committee.

Plan Commissioner Skowronski commented to the committee that as a father and grandfather and plan commissioner, he saw any placement in Franklin as a danger to the children and economy of the community.

Former Alderman Taylor as well commented on the protection of the children of the neighborhoods and the need for reforms in the law where a convicted sexual predator would stay in jail.

From here, committee members and Sen. Lazich and Rep. Stone will negotiate the wording of the bill for re-introduction to the committee.

If the "plug-in" player doesn't work on your computer, you may download the clip and play it on any software that will play an WMV video file. Click here.

State Rep. Jeff Stone and State Senator Mary Lazich presented the details to two pieces of legislation that they will or have introduced to protect the citizens of Franklin and Wisconsin from sexual predators at a Town Hall Meeting at the courtroom at the Franklin Police Department on Saturday morning, 2/21/04. Approximately 50 people thanked our representatives and offered comments on the legislation.

Representative Stone is pushing for public hearings on his bill before the "Committee on Criminal Justice" during the week of February 23, 2004. I'll send an e-mail to all interested parties to notify you of time and place and any transportation that may be arranged by signing up here.

You should also send e-mails and letters to the members of the committee in support of Rep. Stone's bill. It is suggested that you personalize each e-mail. The members of the committee and their e-mail addresses are below.

Committee on Criminal Justice

First	Last	District	Area	E-Mail	Notes
Scott	Suder	69	Clark County	rep.suder@legis.state.wi.us	Chairman
Donald	Friske	35	Antigo/Merrill	rep.friske@legis.state.wi.us	Vice Chairman
Carol	Owens	53	Oshkosh/Waupun	rep.owens@legis.state.wi.us
Frank	Lasee	2	Two Rivers	rep.lasee@legis.state.wi.us
Suzanne	Jeskewitz	24	Menominee Falls/Germantown	rep.jeskewitz@legis.state.wi.us
Mark	Gundrum	84	New Berlin/Hales Corners	rep.gundrum@legis.state.wi.us
Jerry	Petrowski	86	Mosinee	rep.petrowski@legis.state.wi.us
Leah	Vukmir	14	Wauwatosa/Brookfield	rep.vukmir@legis.state.wi.us
Pedro	Colon	8	Near South Side	rep.colon@legis.state.wi.us	Also on the Siting Task Force
Tony	Staskunas	15	West Allis	rep.staskunas@legis.state.wi.us
Mark	Pocan	78	Madison	rep.pocan@legis.state.wi.us
Lena	Taylor	18	Near Northwest Side	rep.taylor@legis.state.wi.us
Robert	Turner	61	Racine	rep.turner@legis.state.wi.us
Marlin	Schneider	72	Wisconsin Rapids	rep.schneider@legis.state.wi.us

Judge Kuhnmuench held a hearing on the placement of Billy Lee Morford on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2004. At that hearing she announced a ten member advisory group to find and recommend three sites to permanently place Billy Lee Morford. The group is to be headed by former State Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske (now a Marquette University law professor). State Senator Mary Lazich will also be on the panel.

To date, none of our "official" representatives have provided the court with detailed information on why the court should NOT place a trailer on the House of Corrections grounds (within properly zoned areas that already exist).

Talking hasn't protected Franklin. As of 1/8/04 Judge Kuhnmuench is still considering Franklin as a home for Billy Lee Morford and other sexual predators. She is looking at county, city or state owned land on which a trailer would be placed as a temporary housing for Morford. The Milwaukee County House of Corrections has been mentioned as one of the sites.

The City Attorney has opined that because the City of Franklin controls all zoning within the boundaries, we are protected against a multiple resident facility being placed here without our consent. This opinion ONLY relates to a multiple resident facility. This is a legal concept called "home rule." Without arguing the legal issues, it does not prevent the State from purchasing your next door neighbor's house and putting up to 3 offenders there.

But the council decided to wait and see what happens and attend the 2/20 hearing.

Once again, the residents and taxpayers fall victim to a city government that sits on its’ hands and waits for something to happen (to it).

In a recent article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, it became apparent that neither the mayor, nor our alderman have followed the Billy Ray Morford placement and we’re once again on the list.

Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Mary Kuhnmuench announced the formation of a mini “task force to revisit plans to build a transitional living facility in Milwaukee County for sexual predators on Jones Island or City of Milwaukee-owned land in Franklin.”

The article states that the Judge is forming this task force with representatives from “the mayor's office, county, police and the Sheriff's Department to join what she called a "mini task force."” I can guarantee you that the mayors office that the article mentions IS NOT Franklin’s.

Why hasn’t our alderman helped this Judge understand that in addition to not WANTING this “halfway house,” that our community IS NOT APPROPRIATE AND DOES NOT MEET ANY OF THE CRITERIA for such a facility.

At a SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING held on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 I urged with the Common Council to take action. I asked that they immediately file a lawsuit asking for a permanent injunction to prohibit the State or any other agency from placing any NON-FRANKLIN SEXUAL PREDATOR in our community.

Our alderman continued to ask for attendance in task forces and for letters to be sent... He just doesn't get it. The last letter that was sent is no longer in the file. The task force that he wanted organized never got organized. The current suggestion by Mayor John Norquist is to build a home in the Milwaukee City Tree Nursery on 51st St. and Hunting Park. What's to say that YOUR next door neighbor calls the court or the state and says "I have the perfect house for Billy Lee Morford..." The deal would be done regardless of any letter sent by our council.

After support from a lot of the people in attendance for my proposal, Ald. Sohns made a motion to have the City Attorney research the filing of such a lawsuit. The City Attorney is to report back on JANUARY 20, 2004.

Don Dorsan sent out an e-mail that says that I'm "accusing the council on not taking action on this matter. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact this issue is foremost in my mind as well as the other council members." Don needs to re-read my flyer. I criticize the "joining task forces and sending letters" approach to the problem. I'm certain that now that you know about the issue, it's foremost on your minds too, but alderman need to take more decisive action. Don chose not to inform you, but rely on The Hub to do his work for him.

Dorsan has also called my push for a city sponsored injunction a "knee jerk reaction." We'll see. Action versus inaction.

IT’S ONE THING TO GO FOR THE HEADLINES, IT’S MORE MEANINGFUL TO GET RESULTS.

Click Here to request more information via e-mail on this issue and future meetings.

Click Here to download the "Sexual Predator" informational flyer distributed throughout the district by Steve. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Click Here to read County Supervisor Borkowski's letter to Judge Kuhnmuench in support of our community.

Click Here for the link to Wisconsin State Statutes "Chapter 980 Sexually Violent Person Commitments" law.

Senator Lazich has sent an update letter to a constituent about the issue. Read it here.

Here's an article from the 2/4/04 Journal-Sentinel on court rulings on placements of predators. Click here.