From Fox 5:
Fox 5 discovered a convicted child molester running a karate school in Glendale, Queens and having close contact with young children every day. That has led to an effort to close a loophole in the laws that govern the restrictions placed on convicted sex offenders.
Proposed Law Would Prevent Convicted Sex Offenders Like Glendale, Queens Karate School Owner Edwin Rodriguez from working with kids
In the wake of a Fox 5 NYC exclusive story revealing that Edwin Rodriguez, a Level 2 sex offender was operating a karate school in Glendale, Queens and having close contact with young children every day, Senator Padavan has introduced state legislation (S.6851) to prohibit sex offenders from working or volunteering with children.
Senator Padavan said, “It’s outrageous that a man who committed such a horrendous assault on a young girl could have daily and close contact with other children. We cannot wait until this predator strikes again. New York State needs to close this loophole immediately to keep sex offenders away from children.”
Nine years ago, Rodriguez was convicted of sexual assault in the 1st degree for sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl. He served six months in jail and was sentenced to five years probation. As a Level 2 sex offender, he has to register where he lives but not where he works under current New York State.
According to Parents for Megan’s Law and The Crime Victims Center, the typical pedophile commits an average of 280 sexual crimes during his lifetime. Rapists repeat their offenses at rates up to 35 percent; offenders who molest young boys, at rates up to 40 percent, and those rates do not decline appreciably over time.
Under current state law, prospective teachers and school bus drivers must undergo fingerprinting and background checks. Being on the sex offender registry disqualifies them for those jobs. However, most other jobs that require substantial contact with children do not require those protections.
Senator Padavan’s legislation would ban sex offenders of any level from working with children in any capacity – whether as a paid employee or as a volunteer.
Similar legislation, banning sex offenders from working with children passed the New York State Senate twice, in 2006 and 2008, but since the Democrats took over the Majority, the bill has not been allowed out of committee to come to the Senate floor for a vote. The State Assembly has never acted on the legislation.
26 comments:
I'm glad I'm the first to comment here before the PC/left-wing patrol comes in to self-righteolusly preach about giving people a second chance. So here goes:
The proposed legislation is common sense: why should a known paedophile be let anywhere near children?!
Paedophilia is like [hetero|homo]sexuality: you can't modify it by treatment, just like you can't turn a straight person gay. A pervert one is a pervert for life and that's it (see the statistics in the article: perverts repeat their offenses!) . That's why state governments maintain a list of the registered sexual offenders. New York State should keep track of the work addresses of rapists as well as their work addresses. Rapists do not deserve welfare or special privileges.
I can't believe that there wasn't a law BEFORE about this!
why would you want to "modify by treatment,hetero sexuality" ? how would the species increase?
if you think pedophilia is what heterosexuals practice ,you are deeply disturbed.
there is a thin line between homo and homo/ child sex practices.
watch your minors closely.that is your best protection.
enforcement is difficult.
I agree to a certain extent with the 1st comment. This guy should not work or be let anywhere near children for an extended period of time because of his severe crime. That being said, the man served his time and its been nine years hes gone without an offense, do the statistics show how many repeat offenders waited a full nine years before making a move again. I guess my point is he served his time and hopefully hes a changed man. He should be restricted from working in any jobs involving children but the search shouldn't be so severe that he cant ever find a job because of his past. Theres alot of self-righteous people here that have made mistakes and continue getting away with them. This man made a huge one, but he didn't get away with it, and up to this point seems to have learned his lesson. This story should be given a rest. His new life as what seemed to be a changed man is now over. Any parent who has heard this story and has a brain will immediately take there son/daughter out of his program, he will lose his job, probably the people who hired him as well and because of the bad publicity he will most likely never find a job that covers the bills adequately again.
So, the ex-con karate teacher will now lose his business and job, and become unemployed. Unemployed people are more likely to turn to crime. Nice job, Fox 5.
And while it's true that recidivism is high among pedophiles, this karate teacher was bucking the trend. He was the rare exception.
In his karate school, he was never left alone with his students. There were always staff and parents on hand.
So, first anonymous says that "rapists do not deserve welfare or special privileges." Well, if karate teacher can't get a job, you will pay for his welfare.
Who said he won't be able to get a job? He just won't be able to work with kids.
Crapper, unless you can help this man get a job, STFU.
No. You STFU. I'd prefer to not have sex offenders working with kids. Unemployment is a temporary situation. Living the rest of your life after having being molested isn't.
At Crapper, you're on point most of the time, but you really are being naive if you think that this man is gonna have a life after being destroyed by fox 5. Who will hire him now with the rap sheet that this man has. Obviously you certainly wont. And ur mentality is the same mentality that probably every1 else will have. His life with his family and making any decent money is ruined. I wonder what it would be like to have such a cynical and negative attitude towards people and life all the time. I have to talk with you in person to find out what it feels like. Give the guy a break, hes done his time and for over 9 years hasnt had a relapse.
I agree he should not work with kids or minors. As far as a job he has many options he's a black belt with years of experience he could be a personal trainer, adult instructor, make his own dvd. This America we still have some rights and options. Would you let a alcoholic work at a liquor store and not expect some problems?
"At Crapper, you're on point most of the time,"
"I wonder what it would be like to have such a cynical and negative attitude towards people and life all the time."
So are you saying that you also have a cynical and negative attitude towards people and life all of the time, since you agree with me most of the time?
Sorry, but if you ruin the life of a child, especially sexually, you deserve to suffer for the rest of your life.
Case closed.
You see thats a more honest and realisitic answer than "Who said he won't be able to get a job?" and I respect that. And i dont necesarily disagree so i hope you dont take offense to anything here, my only thing is, he made a horrible mistake but this man still has a family and it seems as if he had genuinely turned his life around. In regards to being with kids I already said my piece on that, we're not on opposite sides there but i just think that this guy showed that hes willing to change and everyone deserves a second chance. Not trying to defend him but ppl like that usually are messed up psychologically and have been abused themselves in the past, as it happened to someone in my family as well. One more thing when i said that you're on point most of the point and you asked me if im a cynic and negative, yea i am. Living in Ridgewood and coming from East NY its kinda hard not to be one, but at the same time, im not gonna give up on the world and think that no one can change for the better when we see examples of people turning their lives around everyday. Thats what i meant to say before.
You see thats a more honest and realisitic answer than "Who said he won't be able to get a job?" and I respect that. And i dont necesarily disagree so i hope you dont take offense to anything here, my only thing is, he made a horrible mistake but this man still has a family and it seems as if he had genuinely turned his life around. In regards to being with kids I already said my piece on that, we're not on opposite sides there but i just think that this guy showed that hes willing to change and everyone deserves a second chance. Not trying to defend him but ppl like that usually are messed up psychologically and have been abused themselves in the past, as it happened to someone in my family as well. One more thing when i said that you're on point most of the point and you asked me if im a cynic and negative, yea i am. Living in Ridgewood and coming from East NY its kinda hard not to be one, but at the same time, im not gonna give up on the world and think that no one can change for the better when we see examples of people turning their lives around everyday. Thats what i meant to say before.
There was a registered sex offender working in maintenance at Atlas Mall. So again, I ask, what makes you think he won't be able to get a job? Others have had no problem. As long as they're not working with kids, I have no problem with them making a living.
Maintenance... hes living the dream
And his victims are living the nightmare.
I don't know all the details of what transpired between the 11 year old girl and Mr. Rodriguez. I only know what FOX reported.
I've always taken the side of victims of crimes. Many people tend to forget that or don't want to see the horror that a victim has to go through. When you touch a child, all bets are off as far as I'm concerned. You have to deal with it your entire life just as the victim does. I was shocked and feel betrayed by Mr. Rodriguez because my child attends this dojo. My child did well and was happy there. NOW WHAT? I can't blame the dojo that someone picked the wrong profession. Did he really believe that this would not come back and haunt him. If my child were the one molested, I'd do what I could to protect other children from falling victim. I can't tell you if Mr.Rodreguez is cured but I'm a Christian who believes in forgivness. I can forgive but cannot forget. We all have to protect the little ones. Hopefully all involved can find peace one day.
Amen.
I am a girl (still a child) and i personally know the man in question. I personally know Sensei Rodriguez and he has never approached me in any way that is inappropriate. I am not saying that i believe that what he did was right nor am i defending him in any way, i am just saying from personal experience that he never did anything to me or any of my friends.
I like have a question. If this man was convicted years ago and has dine nothing since then , what is the problem?
Most sexual abuse is not reported and sex abusers have the highest rate of recidivism of any criminals.
I agree with what anonymous said right before georgetheathiest. I am in no way condoning, approving or making light of the situation. He ruined a young girls life, and took away something from her that could never be given back. That being said, not to sound preachy, but I am religious as well and in the bible there are cases of horrible horrible people. People that make this man look like a noble one, and yet they were able to turn their life around and were able to stay on the right path. I dont kno this man specifically but as far as nearly 10 years are concerned, there is no documented proof that he was ever a repeat offender. Granted, it was a poor career choice but at the same time how do we not know that he became a self-defense instructor to help kids protect themselves from people like his former self. Personally, I am a person who hates when bad things happen... it pains me to see injustices go unnoticed being that I come from a religious background, but we have seen countless examples of people change their life around and become productive members of society. If this man feels horribly for what he did and regrets it everyday and just wants to turn his life around and provide for his family for the future and help teach kids to protect themselves from perverts, should his life now be destroyed because of his past mistake despite his shame? Lets take a look at all our mistakes before we condemn a man for life for something that happened so many years ago.
Something is wrong here. The initial charges warranted a (20-30) year jail sentence. The meritorious testimony and evidence for the complainant held some much weight, that the district attorney's office offered this dangerous pedophile a (3) month jail sentence.
I am assuming that this guy did not have the financial means, to retain an experienced attorney, at the time of his arraignment, nor did he retain an investigator to him prove his case. Many qualify defendants, who are unfamiliar with the legal system, will seek representation from an 18-B attorney (court appointed), and take a plea in order to put the issue behind them as soon as possible. The attorney gets paid the same amount, regardless of the effort put forth.
Prior to discovery, if the complainant decides to redact his/her story, will the DA’s office drop the charges? Probably not, “let the defendant make the next move, they will probably hang themselves.” In other words, make them an incredible offer like (3) moths plus probation, as opposed to “20-30” years in jail.
It’s not that hard for an ADA to GET a conviction on his/her belt. “Move on to the next case. “
Means, Motive and Opportunity [MMO]: Did Rodriguez have the MMO nine years ago during this “One” isolated incident? Well, only God knows.
Did Rodriguez have the MMO during the past (9) years, during the scope of his full time career, as a karate instructor, while surrounded by children? According to the schools cached website, the classes ran from Monday to Saturday. Prior to this school, he worked full time at another karate school in Queens. He certainly had the “Means and Opportunity” to commit a sexual crime against a minor, but apparently he did not the “Motive.”
A pedophile with a Karate School is like a drug addict working in a pharmacy. So, how many other kids did Rodriguez sexually assault in the past 9 years?
How many NYC school teachers get placed in the "district office" because they are pending an investigation, by The Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the NYC School District, after a student makes an allegation that they were sexually assaulted by his/her teacher. Do you know that 60% of those teachers accused are returned to full duty after the student admits committing perjury? If you do not believe me, you can request the statistics, under the FOIA Act, from Commissioner Richard Condon himself.
As a concerned parent, and a professional with reasonable degree of expertise in the judicial system, I try to keep in mind that there are always three sides to every story, "Yours, mine and the truth."
According to the schools cached website and to others schools associated with Rodriguez. Rodriguez has been in the industry for almost (20) years; he organized and coordinated fundraisers for children with special needs and he volunteered annually at a public schools career day event.
So here is my question, “Did Rodriguez really commit the crime that he was charged with or was he wrongfully accused?” I am sure that he regrets speaking to that reporters, but then again, most of us would say the wrong thing if caught off guard.
HOPE THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO YOU!!
"I am sure that he regrets speaking to that reporters, but then again, most of us would say the wrong thing if caught off guard."
What did he say that was wrong? He referred the reporter to his attorney. And even if this is just one of those "innocent victims" of a false accusation, the law should be changed, because most sex offenders are repeat offenders and have no business near kids.
In response to ROBERTO!!! ONCE A CHILD MOLESTOR ALWAYS A CHILD MOLESTOR!!! You have the AUDACITY TO SAY THIS PIECE OF SHIT SERVED HIS TIME !!!!! what a joke that little girl is serving time forever for what that monster did to her and you think he should get a chance to live a nice sweet little life HELL NO!!!! HE SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY IN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT AS A MATTER OF FACT HE SHOULD GET A BULLET IN HIS HEAD POINT BLANK!!!!
Anonymous said...
Crapper, unless you can help this man get a job, STFU.
Your a fucking idiot:) Why don't you give the piece of crap a job!! better yet give him a nice noose maybe he'll hang himself and you can join him:)it really says alot about someone that DEFENDS A CHILD MOLESTOR!!! seems like you have something in common :( Sick Twisted Freak!!!
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