GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – There are several ways to find out if a sexual predator or offender lives in your neighborhood. You can check our website, or with the database maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
When someone convicted of a sex crime moves into your neighborhood, its up to local law enforcement to let you know. That is handled in different ways by different communities.
Clay County let us go along with officials as they told people in Keystone Heights about John Hendley, who was recently released form prison after serving time for sexual battery with a child under 12 and molesting another teen under the age of 17.
Sheriff's Office detectives went to every home within three-tenths of a mile radius --about 1,500 feet from where Hensley is now living.
Detectives handed out flyers and talked to people in the area: People like Vesta Miner, who lives across the street from Hensley and had no idea he was living there.
"Yes, I am very surprised." Miner said. "I am very worried about him being in the neighborhood."
Miner said her young grandchild comes to visit, and said with a predator across the street, she will never let the child out of her sight..
She said she was happy the Sheriff's Office let her know who moved in near her.
"Very glad," Miner said. "That is a good thing that they do this."
As detectives go door-to-door to notify people, Sgt. Scott Moreland said they never know what to expect from people.
"We get a mixed range of emotions," Moreland said.
Most are surprised to learn that someone who committed a sex crime is right next door. There is often concern about safety, but he gives them a point of contact should there be a problem.
These same officers also check up and verify that the offender or predator is living where they say they are and are following the rules.