PINE RIVER-A Level 3 sex offender will re-enter the community after serving a prison sentence.
The Cass County Sheriff's Office reported Robert Arthur Litzau, 73, will return to the Pine River area on Monday following his release. He will reside in the vicinity of 20th Street Southwest and 24th Avenue Southwest in rural Pine River.
Litzau is not wanted by the police at this time and will have served the sentence imposed upon him when released. The prison sentence resulted from a parole violation for the crime, not a new criminal sexual conduct offense, the sheriff's office reported.
Litzau engaged in sexual contact with male victims, ages 14 and 15. Contact included displaying pornography, sexual touching and penetration. The offender was known to victims.
The sheriff's office is releasing this information pursuant to Minnesota law, authorizing law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sexual or predatory offender's release from prison or a secure treatment facility when they believe the release of information will enhance public safety and protection.
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The Cass County Sheriff's Office may not direct where the offender does or does not reside, nor can this agency direct where the offender works or goes to school. The risk level of this offender has been determined largely on his potential to re-offend based on his previous behavior.
"Convicted sexual and predatory offenders have always been released to live in our communities," a news release stated. "It was not until the passage of the Registration Act that law enforcement had an ability to track movement of these offenders after their initial release. ... Abuse of this information to threaten, harass or intimidate a registered offender is unacceptable and such acts could be charged as a crime. Such abuses could potentially end the ability of law enforcement to provide these notifications. If community notification ends the only person who wins is the offender. Many of these offenders derive their power from the opportunity that secrecy provides."
