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State Representative Duane Quam
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9236
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS COLUMN
CONVICTED SERIAL PEDOPHILE SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED
Following a short break for precinct caucuses, lawmakers returned to the State Capitol to continue debate on Reform 2.0 proposals and other items of significance.
On Wednesday, the Property Tax and Local Tax Division debated property tax relief legislation, while on Thursday, State Government Finance debated a bill on state employee gainsharing, the Taxes Committee heard about a Tax Reform Action Commission, and the Jobs Committee discussed the Angel Investor Tax Credit - which matches start-up businesses with people looking to invest their money - to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth.
Some of the biggest headlines of the week centered on Governor Dayton’s human services commissioner and her decision to release a convicted pedophile from the Minnesota Sex Offender Program.
The commissioner feels the 64-year-old has successfully completed treatment over a 17 year period, deserves a greater deal of freedom, and is ready to be eased back into society by living in a halfway house located in St. Paul.
A one-time offender is bad enough, but in this case, we are dealing with a true sexual predator. Here is a man who, over the course of his life, has been convicted of almost 100 separate sexual offenses on nearly 30 different kids, as young as eight years old.
I feel, and I’m guessing most Minnesotans would agree, that someone who sexually assaulted young children should never be allowed to rejoin society – regardless if he completed a treatment program or not.
Does anyone truly believe this person has been cured? Or can be? And is it really worth taking the chance to find out?
This isn’t a person who made a mistake and can probably be saved; this is a convicted pedophile that has spent his life stealing the innocence from dozens of children.
To say I am concerned about this decision is a gross understatement. On February 15, the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Reform Committee will hold a hearing to find out why Commissioner Jesson made her choice. As I serve on this committee, I look forward to asking her some direct questions.
Governor Dayton could step in and right this wrong. He could reverse this decision and keep Clarence Opheim right where he’s at. Hopefully the Governor will make this choice, as this is clearly a criminal who lost the right to any future freedom many years ago and should not be given the option to rejoin society.
News Items
- Quam Statement on HF956 - Omnibus Energy Bill - (Posted: May 8 2013 9:14AM)
- Capitol Update from Rep. Duane Quam - (Posted: May 3 2013 12:00AM)
- House Moves Ahead with Damaging Changes to Education and Taxes - (Posted: Apr 26 2013 12:00AM)
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