Tiny Iowa Town Makes Move Against Sex Offenders

[Soldier4Christ]

Modale Shuts Out Offenders


MODALE, Iowa -- Iowa's new law restricting where sex offenders can live won't keep offenders out of some smaller towns, so now many communities are passing their own tough ordinances.

In September, Iowa put a law into force that keeps registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet from schools and day cares.

The 300 people who live in Modale, Iowa, said feel their town isn't big enough for sex offenders, so three weeks ago, the town passed a resolution to keep offenders out of Modale entirely.

"We watch each others' backs when somebody's gone or the kids are playing," said resident Connie Cleaver.

Cleaver is the grandmother of four children under 10 years old. She said her town isn't the place sex offenders want to come.

"This isn't their type of town," Cleaver said.

The Iowa Sex Offender Registry shows two sex offenders already live in Modale. Cleaver and her neighbors wanted their mayor to keep the other ones out. The two sex offenders who already live here aren't breaking Iowa's sex offender laws because there is no school or day care in Modale.

"We decided we better pass something," said Mayor Rodney Erixson. "Small towns without schools are forced to do something like this, otherwise you have no recall. They're going to live someplace."

Erixson said that in Modale, registered sex offenders can't live within 2,000 feet of the library, the ballpark or the playground and picnic areas. The two sex offenders who already live in Modale are grandfathered in to the new ordinance.

The director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Iowa said laws such as the one in Modale will drive sex offenders underground, meaning they won't register or get treatment. He said that makes them an even bigger threat to children.

Erixson said at least four or five towns around Modale have passed similar ordinances or are drafting ones now.

Previous Stories:

    * March 3, 2006: Sites Help Parents Map Sex Offenders
    * February 7, 2006: Some Iowa Sex Offenders Making Way To Omaha
    * January 20, 2006: Iowa Law Puts Squeeze On Nebraska's Sex Offender Tracking
    * January 18, 2006: Papillion Approves Sex Offender Ordinance
    * December 19, 2005: 3 Atlantic Sex Offenders Arrested Under New Residency Law
    * December 16, 2005: Iowa Sex Offender Passes Deadline, Tries To Turn Self In
    * November 29, 2005: Omaha Recommends Sex Offender Residency Law For State
    * November 16, 2005: Iowa Treatment Facility Tries To Rehabilitate Sex Offenders
    * November 16, 2005: Gretna Votes To Restrict Sex Offenders
    * November 2, 2005: Springfield Passes Residency Ordinance
    * November 2, 2005: Pottawattamie Notifies Offenders Of Residency Law
    * November 2, 2005: Springfield Kicks Out Sex Offenders
    * October 26, 2005: UPDATED: Lincoln Considers Restrictions On Sex Offenders
    * October 5, 2005: Nebraska Towns React To Iowa Sex Offender Law
    * October 4, 2005: New Law Displaces 80 Percent Of Pott. Co. Sex Offenders
    * September 27, 2005: Iowa Sex Offenders Must Move