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Friday, October 31, 2008
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Same place, same issue Trommald residents wonder why second sex offender moving in Staff Writer CROSBY - In March, a Level 3 sex offender moved to Trommald and more than 70 residents packed Crosby City Hall to voice their concerns during a community notification meeting.
Flash forward eight months, and residents again packed into the city hall for a meeting concerning another Level 3 offender moving into in Trommald, a city of 119 people near Crosby.
While the crowd on Thursday may have been smaller than the one in March - about 30 people total - their concerns were no less with the news that sex offender Michael James Norris, 37, planned to move to a residence on the 18000 block of Elk Street in Trommald.
The two men are the only Level 3 sex offenders in Crow Wing County.
"I don't know why on Earth they want to come to Trommald," a woman said during the meeting.
Norris was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and sentenced to 86 months in prison in 1997 in Hennepin County after he engaged in the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl whom he knew and used threats to gain compliance from his victim.
He was sent back to prison in 2003 and 2005 for violating conditions of his release by having non-sexual contacts with minors. He is required to register as a sexual offender until March 25, 2017.
Norris has served the sentence imposed on him by the court and will not be under Department of Corrections supervision.
"That doesn't mean he won't be watched, I promise," Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl said.
Dahl also pointed out that neither the sheriff's department nor the Department of Corrections can direct a sex offender on where to live, work or go to school.
"Believe me, we were just as shocked as you, if not more so, to find out we had another one moving into the area," he said. "You have to understand we are frustrated sometimes with the system as well. We also want you to know we didn't have a choice (with Norris moving to Trommald). This is not a choice thing. This is the way it happens."
Along with law enforcement contact with Norris, Sheriff's Sgt. Joe Meyer said people should report any suspicious behavior by calling the sheriff's department at (218) 829-4749. He said the public can act as eyes and ears for law enforcement.
Several people expressed dismay with a second Level 3 sex offender moving into their community. One man asked to what extent within the law residents could try to force Norris from the community.
Michele Murphy of the Department of Corrections warned residents against harassing Norris.
"The more stable their lives are the more likely they are to control their offense cycle," Murphy said.
There are three levels of sex offender assignment that range from Level 1 offenders, who are considered a minor risk, up to Level 3, which means the person is the most likely to reoffend.
Crow Wing County has 184 registered predatory offenders, Aitkin County 58, Mille Lacs County 143, Morrison County 91 and Cass County 115.
"Sex offenders have always been among us and will always be among us," Murphy said.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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