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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

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Pillager residents crowd into school for meeting on offender

By MATT ERICKSON

Staff Writer

PILLAGER - More than 100 people packed the Pillager School commons area Tuesday night to learn about Robert Floyd Welch, a Level 3 sex offender who has moved to the city.

Welch, 40, was convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in 1994 and 1997. In 2006 he was convicted of stalking and harassing three girls in Brainerd and was sentenced to 79 months. The Minnesota Court of Appeals recently overturned that conviction and determined Welch had served his sentence.

Welch was released from jail on Aug. 8 as a Level 2 sex offender. On Friday, the Minnesota Department of Corrections upgraded Welch to a Level 3 sex offender, necessitating Tuesday's public hearing.

"It's not a nice subject but it's a necessary one," said Scott Behrends, who ran Tuesday's public hearing for the Minnesota Department of Corrections. "Hopefully, after tonight you'll have a better understanding who they assign risk levels and what risk levels mean."

Robert Welch

Risk levels fall into three categories: Level 1, which is low public risk; Level 2, which is moderate public risk; and Level 3, which is high public risk and the category under which Welch falls.

In the Pillager area there are 10 registered sex offenders of all categories. In Cass County, there are 125.

"Sex offenders in our communities are nothing new," Behrends said.

Following his presentation, Behrends fielded questions that ranged from how likely it was that Welch would reoffend to whether residency restrictions are in place (they are not).

One man in the audience asked if people could picket on public property in front of Welch's home on Brook Lane to draw media attention and force Welch out of town. Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher, who attended the meeting with several deputies and other department staffers, said he didn't know what picketing would do other than possibly change notification laws.

A woman asked what the school district could do in barring Welch from school events and property. Elementary principal Wanda Bell said Welch's information has been given to staffers.She said the school will post his information where they can and would be talking to the district's attorney regarding Welch.

One woman suggested forming neighborhood watches, educating themselves and their children about Welch and sex offenders in general. That statement was echoed by Behrends, who said parents need to teach young children, teens and each other about sex offenders and call the Cass County Sheriff's Department if they notice Welch exhibiting any strange behavior.

Most important, Behrends said, was for parents to know who their children are spending their time with.

"I have no doubt everyone in this room will be extremely diligent," Behrends said.

Cassie Macheel, a Motley resident, has children in day care and second grade in Pillager. She said Tuesday's public hearing was helpful, even if it was rushed with short public notice because of the Court of Appeals order on Welch's case.

"But it's the fact they are out there, that 10 of them are living in a Pillager address and we don't know about them," Macheel said. "There's nothing we can do about it except teach our children to watch, kick run and scream" when under threat.

Liza Gropper lives within a mile of Welch's residence. She said she's frightened for her children's safety and won't let hem outside without someone with them. She also plans to keep her house's security system on at all times.

"I am so scared, honest to God," Gropper said. "I don't see how this idiot can get out and be around our children. ... Hope and pray our kids are safe, that's about the only thing we can do right now. Keep an eye out for each others' kids and if we see anything suspicious call the authorities."

Information on Level 3 predatory offenders is available online on the Minnesota Department of Corrections Web site at www.doc.state.mn.us/level3/search.asp.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.

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