Sierra Madre Parents Want To Know How Convicted Sex Offender Can Live Near School
SIERRA MADRE (CBSLA.com) — Parents of students who attend St. Rita, a private school in Sierra Madre, are wondering how a convicted sex offender can be allowed to live two blocks from the facility.
CBS2's Adrianna Weingold learned parents are worried and outraged.
Andrew West Reid Jr., who now legally goes by AWest, lives two blocks from their children's school.
"Disgust, makes my knees weak, makes me scared," parent Christy Fisher said.
Authorities say AWest served eight years in federal prison for molesting and photographing a 6-year-old girl.
He was released in January and now lives at his family home on Mira Monte Avenue.
His family home is so close to St. Rita, Weingold reports, that you can hear children playing at recess from his front lawn.
Weingold tried to speak with AWest and his family, but no one answered the door.
So, how can a sex offender live this close to so many children?
Sierra Madre Chief of Police Larry Gianonne says the restrictions AWest has to follow are actually more strict than California law that says registered sex offenders are prohibited from living within 2,000 feet of any school or park where children congregate.
"He can not be within 100 feet of any child under the age of 18 unless he notifies the parents, tells the parents that he is a sex registrant, and they agree to let him be around those children," Giannone says.
Gianonne says he's ordered extra patrols in the area. He's also urging parents to notify police if they see AWest near children.
"It's a small town, and I don't know how welcome they'll feel downtown and things of that nature so I don't know how long they'll last here," parent Kristina Cepielik said.
A PTA meeting was held Thursday evening at St. Rita, and Gianonne says he'll be there to discuss safety concerns with parents.
KCAL9's Bobby Kaple reported that there have been two threats made against AWest and police are investigating.
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