650+ Registered Sex Offenders in Wake County, Authorities Say

Raleigh, N.C. — There are more sex offenders living in the Raleigh area than ever before. The number of registered sex offenders in Wake County has nearly doubled in just three years.

In December of 2003, 388 registered offenders lived in Wake County. Now, authorities said that 666 sex offenders are registered in the county.

"It's sad that there is no place that you can just sit in the house, watch your children play outside and know that they are safe, there is nothing like that any more," says Krystal Dyer, resident of the Trees and Leaves Apartment Complex in Raleigh.

Dyer told WRAL she keeps a close eye on her godchildren when they come over to play. But now she said she will keep an even closer watch on them after finding out who lives next door.
"It's kind of shocking because you don't know who you live by,” Dyer said. “Nowadays, people are not close to your neighbors."

According to the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry website, there are currently three registered sex offenders living in Dyer’s apartment complex. One lives right next door, the other across the walkway from her unit.

"I didn't even know, so now that I do know I will take more precaution," she said.

"It's very important that we track our sex offenders as best as possible," said Dean Baldwin, who compiles statistics on the number of sex offenders for the Wake County Sheriff's Office.

In just a portion of downtown Raleigh, there are more than 100 registered sex offenders. Officials said the numbers are connected to growth, better reporting of crimes and new sex offenses.

"One, of course, would be computer-related crimes. Peeping Tom can now also put you on the registry," Baldwin said.

The Wake County Sheriff's Office tracks offenders by randomly going to their homes to make sure they live where they say they live. Officials said their goal has been to visit registered offenders at least two times a year.

Also starting late last year, a new law took affect requiring registered sex offenders to check in with the sheriff's office in person twice a year.

19 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 19 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

What scares me is that you cannot really be sure of what these people look like. The pictures on the website are not being kept current.(not in my county anyway)I don't understand what is so hard about taking someone's picture when they come into register if their looks have changed. It's our children we are talking about!!!

mlbangel81
February 13, 2007 5:57 p.m.

http://ncregistry.ncsbi.gov/(S(ukqirp55niiptein10myt245))/Default.aspx

Tired of thoughtlessness
February 13, 2007 2:56 p.m.

Thank you for the information on Watch Dog. Ironically we just found out yesterday that a sex offender just moved into our neighborhood within the last two weeks. First, of all I want to know why would a couple in their sixties want to move into a neighborhood of young families with children? I know my parents wanted a quiet neighborhood. This scares us parents considering his charges. Second, we only found out because someone in the neighborhood was selling their home and had to disclose that information. I can understand disclosing that someone lives here, (I think that is a good law) but why werent we notified he was moving here? Don't we have any rights? By the way this is a man in his sixties who has been convicted 4 different times starting in 2000. Why isnt he in jail? Does anyone know if there are any laws about how far from a park or school they have to live or if a home owners association can do anything?

mythoughts
February 13, 2007 2:50 p.m.

I lied-I have one more comment/reply. On the watchdog site, it will color code the violations depending on whether they were offenses against children, rape, sexual battery or "other." Again, that gives a pretty clear distinction. Sometimes, the info will tell you whether it was violent (rape w/weapon), etc.

Rocknhorse
February 13, 2007 11:46 a.m.

Oh, one more comment, at 18 or 19, you are old enough to be held accountable for your actions. Regardless of how "consensual" a relationship is, as an adult, that person is responsible for making sound decisions. While a 15 year old THINKS they are mature, they are still children themselves. The "adult" has the legal responsibility to make adult decisions. Bedding a child is NOT being very responsible and yes, they should be held accountable. No harm has ever occurred by waiting until both partners are mature enough to make the right decision.

Rocknhorse
February 13, 2007 11:40 a.m.