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Police nab sex offender
By Andrew Amelinckx
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
In the latest of a string of incidents of convicted sex offenders allegedly failing to register as required by law, a former Greenport man was arrested in Livingston by the Greenport Police.
John R. Hancock, 45, was arrested Monday and charged with failure to register as a sex offender.
Failure to register or verify is a Class E felony, changed by a 2007 act from a Class A misdemeanor.
The New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services sends out an address verification letter to sex offenders required to register their current addresses, which must be signed and sent back. If not the local police agency is notified.
According to the Greenport Police Department, Greenport Officers Aurora Lightheart and Paul Calcagno searched Greenport and Catskill and with the assistance of the State Police located Hancock in Livingston where he was taken into custody.
According to the state Department of Criminal Justice Services, Hancock is a Level 3 sexually-violent offender.
Level 3 is the highest level given to sex offenders and, according to DCJS, means that the court has determined that there is a high risk to commit another sex crime.
He was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse and third-degree rape in Columbia County July 9, 2003 and was sentenced to a term of 16 months to four years in state prison.
After Hancock’s arrest on failure to report he was arraigned before Greenport Town Judge Robert Brenzel and remanded to the Columbia County Jail in Lieu of $25,000 cash or $50,000 bail bond.
Hancock’s case was just one of several in the county as of late.
Earlier this month Harry Myron Wheeler, 41, turned himself in to the Hudson Police Department and was charged with first-offense failure to report as a sex offender.
Wheeler was convicted of third-degree rape in 2001 and must legally register with the closest police agency.
Similarly, the Hudson Police Department arrested Eugene S. Cobbins, 29, of Hudson for the same charge in September.
Cobbins was convicted of third-degree rape in 2006 and is listed as a level 3 sex offender, according to HPD.
This summer two more Hudson men were arrested and charged with failing to report.
Michael P. Jones, 31, and Randall Fields, 45, were both arrested by HPD, on July 8 and 9, respectively, and charged with first offense failure to register or verify.
Jones was convicted in 1999 of third-degree sodomy with a 7-year-old boy, according to the DCJS Web site.
Fields was convicted in 1983 of first-degree sodomy with a male.
HPD is still looking for another convicted sex offender, Benjamin McKinney, 45, of Hudson, who allegedly failed to register.
McKinney was convicted of first-degree sodomy in 1983 and is also considered a level 3 offender said police.
McKinney is described by HPD as an African-American male, who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds.
His last known address is 331 State St. in Hudson and is known to frequent Albany.
HPD asks that if you have seen McKinney to call them at 518-828-3388.
***
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
John R. Hancock, 45, was arrested Monday and charged with failure to register as a sex offender.
Failure to register or verify is a Class E felony, changed by a 2007 act from a Class A misdemeanor.
The New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services sends out an address verification letter to sex offenders required to register their current addresses, which must be signed and sent back. If not the local police agency is notified.
According to the Greenport Police Department, Greenport Officers Aurora Lightheart and Paul Calcagno searched Greenport and Catskill and with the assistance of the State Police located Hancock in Livingston where he was taken into custody.
According to the state Department of Criminal Justice Services, Hancock is a Level 3 sexually-violent offender.
Level 3 is the highest level given to sex offenders and, according to DCJS, means that the court has determined that there is a high risk to commit another sex crime.
He was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse and third-degree rape in Columbia County July 9, 2003 and was sentenced to a term of 16 months to four years in state prison.
After Hancock’s arrest on failure to report he was arraigned before Greenport Town Judge Robert Brenzel and remanded to the Columbia County Jail in Lieu of $25,000 cash or $50,000 bail bond.
Hancock’s case was just one of several in the county as of late.
Earlier this month Harry Myron Wheeler, 41, turned himself in to the Hudson Police Department and was charged with first-offense failure to report as a sex offender.
Wheeler was convicted of third-degree rape in 2001 and must legally register with the closest police agency.
Similarly, the Hudson Police Department arrested Eugene S. Cobbins, 29, of Hudson for the same charge in September.
Cobbins was convicted of third-degree rape in 2006 and is listed as a level 3 sex offender, according to HPD.
This summer two more Hudson men were arrested and charged with failing to report.
Michael P. Jones, 31, and Randall Fields, 45, were both arrested by HPD, on July 8 and 9, respectively, and charged with first offense failure to register or verify.
Jones was convicted in 1999 of third-degree sodomy with a 7-year-old boy, according to the DCJS Web site.
Fields was convicted in 1983 of first-degree sodomy with a male.
HPD is still looking for another convicted sex offender, Benjamin McKinney, 45, of Hudson, who allegedly failed to register.
McKinney was convicted of first-degree sodomy in 1983 and is also considered a level 3 offender said police.
McKinney is described by HPD as an African-American male, who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds.
His last known address is 331 State St. in Hudson and is known to frequent Albany.
HPD asks that if you have seen McKinney to call them at 518-828-3388.
***
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
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