Sex offender ruling could impact other cases

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a convicted sex offender’s attempts to remove his name from the state’s registry list.

Thomas Andrews was convicted of rape and child abuse in Massachusetts. He completed his sentence in 1989 and then later moved to Indianapolis 1993. Andrews was convicted and sentenced well before state sex offender list were created.

According to IU McKinney School of Law professor Fran Watson, this case will spur more sex offenders to pursue the courts to get their names off the list. Watson believes some Sheriff’s Departments might get involved and inform the current sex offenders of the recent ruling.

“I would not be surprised if the Andrews decision is placed on the Department of Corrections web site,” said Watson. The Attorney General’s Office has not determined if they will appeal the Court of Appeals decision.

Monday, 24-Hour-News 8's Julian Grace reached out to Andrews. However, the phone number listed under his name was disconnected.

As of Monday, Andrews name and address is still listed on the state sex offender registry list. No word yet if Andrews picture will come down from the federal sex offender list.