Senator looks to close sex offender loophole

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - One women's cry for help in Anderson made it all the way to the Statehouse. Now, a lawmaker wants to eliminate a loophole in the sex offender registry law.

Right now all convicted sex offenders are placed on the honor system when it comes to signing up on the registry . They have 72 hours from the time they are released.

Department of Corrections probation officers check on those offenders who are released on parole. It's up to the sheriff's departments around the state to check up on offenders who are not on parole.

"They should absolutely have to register before they leave prison,” said Christina Paschal of Anderson. “They've already betrayed a child's trust, and not just a child but an entire family, So there is no reason we should give them our trust and for them to get the chance to betray us too."

Paschal held a downtown protest in early May to raise awareness about Indiana sex offenders who skip signing up.

That's what 37-year-old William Everage did after he was released from prison in 2010. Everage served time for molesting Paschal's daughter.

When convicted sex and violent offenders like Everage are released from prison, the DOC sends a fax to the sheriff's department in the offender’s home county to notify law enforcement officials. In the Everage case, the Madison County sheriff said his department never received that information. The department didn't know Everage was back in Anderson, and Everage never turned up to register. He slipped through the cracks.

"In this case, this offender was not on parole and the DOC had no authority over him any longer," said DOC spokesman Doug Garrison.

24-Hour News 8's report on the Everage case and Paschal's protest caught the attention of state Sen. Jim Merritt. He wants to eliminate the loophole.

"What I'll propose this coming session of the General Assembly is the DOC in the process of releasing that individual, they will sign there so that there is not a 72-hour (grace) period ... so there is no gray area, there is no gap in time. I really think that is something that would make people feel comfortable and knowlegeable where these individuals are," Merritt said.

Since the original report, Everage was arrested and placed in jail. Paschal said he faces charges for failing to register as well as additional child molestation charges.